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Facebook alert misfires in Thailand
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FACEBOOK sparked fear — and anger — among Thailand’s social media users after its Safety Check feature triggered a false bomb alert in Bangkok.
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 late 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 in Bangkok in August 2015 that killed 20 people.
The alert was deactivated around an hour later at 10pm.
“Facebook issued false news that has destroyed Thailand’s image,” wrote one Thai online user Prasit Silhanisong. “It’s close to the New Year and now tourists might not come.”
Facebook swiftly defended the algorithm, saying the alert was activated by reports of small explosives that a protester had thrown near Government House earlier on Tuesday.
A Facebook spokesperson said that a “trusted third party” had confirmed the incident.
The Government House protest, which caused no injuries, was covered in the local press.
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