BANGKOK, Thailand – The Thailand Consumers Council (TCC) announced plans to file a lawsuit against Meta, the parent company of Facebook, on June 8, accusing the platform of failing to screen out fraudulent advertisements that have caused widespread financial harm to Thai users. The council outlined eight major concerns, including Facebook’s lack of rigorous seller verification, failure to implement a secure escrow payment system, and an algorithm that allows scammers to precisely target vulnerable users. The group also accused the platform of operating with double standards, noting that Meta enforces stricter safety compliance in the United States, Europe, and Australia than in Southeast Asia.
“We have spent over a year attempting to contact Meta’s local and international offices to urge them to block these fraudulent advertisements, but no action has been taken,” TCC President Boonyuen Siritham said. According to TCC data, the council received 6,164 complaints regarding online shopping fraud between 2024 and March 2026. Of those, 3,793 cases—nearly 60%—occurred on Facebook, involving non-delivery of goods, investment scams, and impersonation via fake pages.
TCC Secretary-General Saree Aongsomwang stated that the lawsuit aims to compel Meta to upgrade its consumer protection standards to international levels, mandate 100% identity verification for advertisers, and provide compensation to victims. The legal action will be filed at the Civil Court in Bangkok on June 8. (TNA)
