According to a Thai Cabinet official, Facebook does not do enough to screen the ads it runs, leaving users vulnerable to expensive scams. He has threatened to try to shut down Facebook in the nation.
The minister of Digital Economy and Society of Thailand, Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn, stated in a statement on Monday that he is prepared to argue in criminal court by the end of the month to have Facebook banned in Thailand.
He claimed that despite previous requests from Thai authorities for Facebook parent firm Meta to remove fake advertising, which resulted in the blocking of more than 5,000 of them, the issue still exists.
According to him, Facebook ads and false profiles regularly pose as well-known financial and investment experts, promising large rewards and enticing individuals into scams where they lose their money.
When contacted by phone on Tuesday, Meta in Thailand requested that all inquiries be submitted through email to the company’s press department.
The press department did not immediately react to a request for comment on the minister’s claims.
If the ministry files the complaint, it is unclear how soon the court might issue a decision.
In Thailand, where there are 66 million people, Facebook has more than 50 million user accounts.
