In a dramatic move, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES) in Thailand plans to issue a criminal order to shut down Facebook in the country. The authority makes serious allegations against the social network and claims that Facebook, in collaboration with fraudsters, misled people into making fraudulent investments. The outrageous accusation marks a turning point in the relationship between the tech giant and a country struggling with a wave of online fraud.

Fight against online fraud: Authorities in Thailand are pulling the ripcord

The situation came to a head when the DES announced that it would take legal action against Facebook, relying on the Computer Crime Act. This move attempts to hold the platform accountable for its alleged inability to detect fraud from scammer-sponsored pages. The ministry accuses Facebook of not doing enough to combat fraudulent content despite repeated requests to cooperate.

The threat is growing: wave of fraud on Facebook

The extent of fraud is alarming. About 70 percent of all online investment-related fraud cases in Thailand take place via Facebook, said Trade and Tourism Minister Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn.

These fraudulent activities involve fake sites that misuse the names and images of well-known companies and celebrities to create fake content and trap people. These scams have shaken users' trust. The financial damage is considerable.

Facebook's defense: AI against fraud

Prae Dumrongmongcolgul, country director of Meta (formerly Facebook) in Thailand, emphasized that the company has recognized the growing number of fraud cases. They would have used artificial intelligence to detect these fraudulent activities and combat them immediately. However, the fraudsters have become increasingly sophisticated and evolved, meaning that Facebook's algorithms cannot always keep up.

Escalation and invitation: Ministry challenges Facebook

Given the threat of escalation, the DES invited a Facebook representative to a meeting to clarify the matter. However, Facebook refused to appoint a representative for the meeting. The ministry emphasizes that it has been talking to Facebook for years about the scam, which is causing more and more damage, particularly through misleading investment content. Despite previous cooperation in blocking fraudulent sites, the fraud remained persistent as the fraudsters continually opened new sites.

The fight continues: challenges and solutions

The scammers put pressure on users to make quick investment decisions in order not to miss out on supposedly high returns. This growing scam has caught the attention of the Royal Thai Police, who will also take criminal and civil action against the scammers and Facebook. However, it remains to be seen whether these legal steps will be enough to effectively combat fraud and protect online users from further harm.

Fact check:

claimFact check
Approximately 70% of all online investment-related fraud incidents in Thailand occur via Facebook.The exact percentage of scams that occur through Facebook can vary depending on the source. However, the Thai government has expressed concern about the growing number of online scams involving social media, including Facebook.
Facebook has used artificial intelligence to detect and combat fraud activity.Facebook (Meta) has in the past announced the use of AI technologies to detect fraud activity on its platform to increase user safety. However, the increasing sophistication of fraudsters may make it difficult for AI systems to keep pace.

Conclusion

The confrontation between the Thai Ministry of Digital Economy and Society and Facebook has reached a critical point. The authority is making serious allegations about alleged collaboration with fraudsters. The online fraud, which has caused significant harm to users, has prompted the government to take drastic measures. The development of this conflict will be important not only for Facebook, but also for the global fight against online fraud.

Stay up to date on current topics and developments and subscribe to the Mimikama newsletter . Our goal is to raise awareness of online fraud and promote media literacy. Visit our Mimikama media education offering to learn more about how you can protect yourself and your loved ones from fraudulent activity. Together we can make the online world safer.

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