The Thai government, in an attempt to address the growing wave of scams on its platform, is taking action to shut down Facebook within its borders. Allegations have been made by authorities against the social media giant, claiming its failure to curb fraudulent activities that are progressively luring users into investing in counterfeit companies and cryptocurrencies.
With a surge in complaints regarding scams on Facebook, Thai authorities have taken a firm stance against the platform. Fraudsters have been exploiting users by enticing them to invest in nonexistent businesses and digital currencies. The number of grievances has grown significantly, prompting the government to take action against the platform’s perceived lack of action.
Legal Measures and Efforts to Combat Fraud
The Thai Digital Economy and Society Ministry, spearheading the initiative, is seeking a court order to shut down Facebook in Thailand. Minister Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn emphasized that the move is aimed at preventing Facebook from offering services in the country if it continues to allow fraudulent pages to operate. Despite repeated requests for cooperation, Facebook has allegedly failed to effectively monitor and remove scam advertisements.
Minister Thanakamanusorn stated, “We are asking the court to close Facebook, not allowing it to provide services in Thailand if they let these fake pages scam people.” The government contends that these scams involve enticing individuals to invest in sham businesses and trade digital currencies. Additionally, fraudsters have posed as government agencies and exploited the names and images of well-known individuals and companies to deceive investors.
The Royal Thai Police will also take legal action against both the scammers and Facebook. Separate lawsuits will be filed in criminal and civil courts. This comes after a meeting between Minister Chaiwut, police officials, and representatives from agencies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
The gravity of the situation is highlighted by the fact that the Thai judiciary has received approximately 300,000 complaints from both private citizens and government bodies, including the securities regulator, regarding fraudulent activities.
Facebook, which boasts a user base of 65 million in Thailand, has cooperated to some extent by blocking scam pages. However, Minister Chaiwut asserts that these measures have not proven sufficient in curbing the prevalence of fraud. He underlines the necessity for Facebook to fortify its screening mechanisms for sponsored pages, as these generate advertising revenue for the company.
Final Thought
The Thai government’s decisive action against Facebook reflects the growing concern over fraudulent activities targeting social media users. As authorities aim to protect individuals from falling victim to scams, the ball now lies in Facebook’s court to enhance its efforts in safeguarding its platform from malicious actors.
Ken Emmanuel is a Blockchain Content writer, a Web3 Enthusiast and a Social Media Management Strategist, he likes writing educative contents to help people gain more knowledge and get inspired. The growth of any organization he work with is always his priority. He is a Geographer by profession and loves reading.
