Anger at FB over fake Thai blast alert

‘BAD FOR IMAGE’: Safety Check feature triggered by reports

FACEBOOK sparked fear and anger among Thailand’s social media users after its Safety Check feature triggered a false bomb alert here.

The check-in feature allows users to signal to friends that they are safe after an event in their area, such as a terror attack or natural disaster.

But, it appeared to misfire on Tuesday, creating an alert called “The Explosion in Bangkok” that said a blast in the capital had been confirmed by “multiple sources”.

The page gave no other details about the incident, but linked to articles about a bombing here in August last year, which killed 20 people.

After city residents marked themselves as safe, the alert was deactivated around an hour later, leaving netizens relieved but also frustrated over the false alarm.

“Facebook issued false news that has destroyed Thailand’s image,” wrote user Prasit Silhanisong.

“It is close to the New Year and tourists might not come,” he added, calling on the social media giant to apologise.

Facebook defended the algorithm, saying the alert was activated by reports of small explosives that a protester had thrown near Government House earlier on Tuesday.

The incident, which caused no injuries or damage, was covered in the local press.

“Safety Check was activated yesterday in Thailand following an explosion,” a Facebook spokesman said, adding that a “trusted third party” had confirmed the incident.

It is not the first time the check-in feature has caused controversy.

In March, the company apologised after a bug sent a Safety Check notification to users around the world, following a deadly suicide bombing in Pakistan. The social network also faced criticism in November last year for selectively activating the feature after attacks in Paris, but not in Beirut. AFP