Bangkok: The Consumer Council is proceeding with a lawsuit against Facebook on June 8th for allowing fraudsters to buy advertisements that deceive Thai people. The lawsuit aims to hold Facebook accountable for facilitating deceptive advertisements that have resulted in significant damages, including a tragic incident involving the death of a young person who was scammed.
According to Thai News Agency, the Consumer Council has outlined eight reasons for their legal action against Meta, the owner of Facebook, including its Thailand offices and headquarters. The organization demands accountability for ongoing damages and emphasizes the necessity of reforming Facebook's platform to protect consumers. Ms. Boonyin Siritham, President of the Consumer Council, highlighted that from 2024 to March 2026, they received 6,164 complaints related to unfulfilled purchases and deceptive advertisements on Facebook.
Victims of these online scams encompass various professions and social backgrounds, indicating that the issue is not due to negligence or lack of technological understanding but rather misplaced trust in the platform. With over 51 million users in Thailand, Facebook's credibility is often assumed, allowing scammers to exploit its advertising system.
Ms. Sareee Ongsomwang, Secretary-General of the Consumer Council Office, emphasized the lawsuit's goal to raise consumer protection standards on par with international norms. Key reasons for the lawsuit include the platform's inundation with deceptive ads, inadequate identity verification, and failure to implement effective consumer safeguards. The council also criticizes Facebook for exploiting legal loopholes in Thailand and failing to cooperate with local authorities, contrasting its compliance with regulations in other regions like the US and Europe.
The lawsuit against Facebook aims to pressure the platform to reform its structure, enforce strict seller verification, and provide compensation to victims. On June 8, 2026, the Consumer Council, along with lawyers and affected parties, will officially file the lawsuit in the Civil Court. A public forum is scheduled for June 19, 2026, to discuss the issue further and push for policy recommendations.