Oppo And Realme Apologies For Pre-Installing Fineasy Loan App Without User Consent; Investigation Already Started In Thailand Regarding The Pre-Installation Of Loan Apps
Recently various Oppo and Realme users in Thailand found an irremovable loan app, Fineasy pre-installed on their devices that can send notifications and access user’s personal data, including their contact lists and phone numbers. This raised a concern of security among the users who then started complaining about this issue on social media.
This matter was taken into consideration by the Thailand Consumers Council which stated this pre-installing of the app without users’ consent is a violation of consumer rights, as the users could neither prevent access to personal information nor uninstall the app. The council is calling on government agencies including, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, the Office of the Personal Data Protection Committee, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, the Office of the Consumer Protection Board, and the Bank of Thailand to investigate the issue promptly to protect consumers from potential online financial fraud.
Soon after the investigation started, both Oppo and Realme smartphone brands officially issued a statement apologising to the users for the inconvenience caused. The brands mentioned that they have been cooperating and working closely with the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission and other relevant agencies to resolve the issue.
The brands will also be taking the following measures-
- On January 13, 2025, the Fineasy app issued an in-app announcement to suspend the service
- From January 14, 2025 new phones that have not yet fixed the Fineasy app installation issue will no longer be sold
- From January 16, 2025 smartphone users will receive OTA updates, which are new system versions that no longer require the installation of the app
- From January 14, the pre-installing of third-party loan apps on Oppo and Realme devices will be stopped
It is said that if violations are found in the investigation, both companies could face fines of up to 3 million baht and other penalties. As per the current update, PM’s office Minister Jiraporn Sindhuprai has revealed that representatives from Oppo and Realme have been summoned to explain the installation of the loan app. Meanwhile, victims are also encouraged to file complaints and the phone distributors must clarify the issue.
On data leak to China, Jiraporn said the CPB will collect information from affected consumers and may need international cooperation.
Can Realme and Oppo be blacklisted in Thailand?
Digital Economy And Society Ministry, Minister Prasert Chanthararuangthong said that relevant laws need to be looked at first as there are no clear regulations for installing software and applications on mobile phones. The scope of the investigation will be dependent on legal factors.
Apart from these agencies, the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau also launched an investigation into this matter and found that the loan apps were part of ColorOS which is developed by phone manufacturers. In the latest Android 15 version the apps Fineasy and Happiness Loan were found pre-installed without user consent. Authorities are now determining if this violates Section 13 of the Computer Crime Act, which prohibits distributing software specifically designed as a tool for committing crimes. Violators face up to one year in prison, a fine of up to 20,000 baht, or both.
Amid this ongoing investigation, Oppo has also postponed the launch of its Reno 13 5G series that was scheduled for yesterday in Thailand while the Thai distributor, Possfey grou,p and Chinese manufacturer are being investigated for possible violations whereas Realme and its Thai distributors are also under investigation for the same issue.
