Thailand's Consumer Watchdog to Sue Meta Over Facebook Scam Ads

Thailand’s consumer watchdog plans to sue Meta's Facebook for allegedly allowing scam advertisements on its platform, leading to fraud against users. Despite attempts to address these concerns, the Consumer Council cites Meta’s insufficient actions in resolving the issue and aims to elevate consumer protection standards through legal action.

Thailand's consumer watchdog is set to file a lawsuit against Meta, the parent company of Facebook, alleging the platform enabled scammers to defraud users through deceptive advertisements. The Consumer Council articulated this stance on Thursday, emphasizing a chronic failure to safeguard consumers.

Meta, which has not officially responded to Reuters' inquiries, maintains a position of investment in measures aimed at curtailing scam-related content. This legal move is part of a broader, global push by governments to exert tighter control over social media and prevent digital service misuse for fraudulent activities.

The Consumer Council has documented nearly 3,793 instances, ranging from undelivered purchases to bogus investment schemes, linked to Facebook from 2024 to 2026. The Council asserts that despite reaching out consistently over the past year, Meta has not taken adequate steps to mitigate these fraudulent ads, prompting the decision to pursue legal action with the intent of reinforcing international-level consumer protection standards.