BANGKOK, Jan 13 (TNA) – Thai Prime Minister’s Office Minister Jiraporn Sindhuprai has instructed the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB) to urgently summon representatives from smartphone manufacturers OPPO and Realme to explain the alleged pre-installation of loan applications on their devices.
The move follows widespread reports on social media from users of OPPO and Realme smartphones who claim to have discovered pre-installed loan apps, including one named “Suk Loan” (translated as “Happiness Loan”) or “Fineasy.” Users reported that the apps were installed as system apps, making them difficult or impossible to uninstall. Concerns were further raised as the apps allegedly send loan solicitations and access personal user data without explicit consent.
Minister Jiraporn has directed the OCPB to investigate the matter and has scheduled a meeting with OPPO and Realme representatives at the OCPB headquarters on Tuesday, January 14. Other mobile phone operators have also been invited to discuss preventative measures and solutions to potential issues arising from mobile phone usage.
The OCPB, as the primary consumer protection agency, will collaborate with other relevant government bodies, including the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, the Bank of Thailand, the Personal Data Protection Committee, and the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), to formulate measures to protect consumers from potential rights violations and ensure their safety when using products and services. -819 (TNA)
