Recently, a serious lawsuit has been filed in Thailand against two well-known smartphone brands, Oppo and Realme. The issue stems from the pre-installed unauthorized loan application Fineasy on their devices without users’ consent.
Consumers Upset Over Oppo and Realme’s Actions
Approximately 40 consumers in Thailand have authorized the Thailand Consumers Council (TCC) to file a lawsuit against these manufacturers. Patipol Putthachuchart, one of the affected users, shared that after purchasing an Oppo phone, he discovered that the device came pre-installed with two loan applications, including Fineasy. After system updates, at least ten additional unfamiliar apps, including gambling apps, appeared on his device.
Oppo and Realme embroiled in unauthorized loan app controversy
About 4 million Oppo and Realme phones sold in Thailand were pre-installed with loan applications.
Mr. Patarakorn Teepboonrat, director at TCC, stated that this group is among the 192 users who filed complaints regarding the automatic installation of applications that violate personal data privacy and illegal lending. According to Thailand’s Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, around 4 million Oppo and Realme phones were pre-installed with loan applications. These applications actively displayed loan offers to device owners, with total disbursed amounts reaching up to 15 million baht (approximately $430,000 USD).
Violation of Consumer Rights and Data Privacy Risks
Mr. Pornwut Pipatanadetsak, Director of Policy and Innovation at TCC, emphasized that pre-installing loan applications severely violates consumer rights. “This action consumes phone storage without user consent. Users cannot uninstall these applications, and they also have access to personal data,” he said.
Thai authorities are assisting lawyers in guiding consumers to file both criminal and civil lawsuits for this case. Notably, the server data for these loan applications is stored abroad, complicating the investigation and resolution process.
Conclusion
This incident not only causes distress among Thai consumers but also raises significant questions about the responsibility of smartphone manufacturers in protecting customer rights and data privacy. Consumers need to be vigilant and thoroughly research before purchasing technology devices. Meanwhile, regulatory bodies must strengthen supervision to ensure businesses comply with legal regulations.
To protect their rights, users should regularly check and update applications on their devices and carefully review manufacturers’ privacy policies before making purchases.
Source: Dantri
