Chinese smartphone manufacturers Oppo and Realme have recently apologized after customers discovered loan applications pre-installed on their devices without user consent. The apps, which could access personal information such as contacts and send notifications, could not be uninstalled, sparking concerns about privacy violations and potential financial fraud.

The National Consumers Council of Thailand criticized Oppo and Realme for this action, labeling it a breach of consumer rights. The council also raised alarms over the risk of misuse of financial data and fraudulent activities. They called on the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission and the Bank of Thailand to intervene.

In response, both companies issued a formal apology and promised to cooperate with the relevant authorities to address the issue. They confirmed that the loan-related feature in the Fineasy app had been removed, leaving only the functionality designed to assist with everyday tasks. Fineasy is a financial service app offering various services, but it has received negative reviews due to instability and issues like difficulty topping up funds or sudden crashes.

Users also complained about persistent notifications from the app, even after it had been uninstalled. Oppo and Realme have pledged to allow users to remove the Fineasy app themselves and encouraged them to contact the brand’s service centers for immediate assistance. They further promised to refrain from pre-installing loan apps on their devices in the future and would no longer recommend such apps in their app stores.

This issue has sparked a viral reaction on social media, with many users expressing their disbelief or vowing never to purchase from Oppo or Realme again.

SOURCE: BISNIS | PHOTO: INEWS