Facebook refuses to admit mistake over ‘bomb’ alert

[webfact]

Facebook refuses to admit mistake over ‘bomb’ alert
By THE NATION

 

 

BANGKOK: -- SOCIAL NETWORK giant Facebook stated yesterday that an alert about a bombing in Bangkok on Tuesday night – an attack that did not occur – resulted due to third-party news sources following an incident at Government House in the morning.

 

Facebook has not admitted a mistake or that the alert was made in error, but it turned off its Safety Check feature after it became clear that the bomb alert was inaccurate. 

 

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

 

On Tuesday night, many hours after the incident at Government House, the crisis notification tool created an alert called “The Explosion in Bangkok”, which stated that a blast in the capital had been confirmed by “multiple sources”.

 

Full story: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30303064

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2016-12-29

[NCC1701A]

Headline tomorrow:

"Thai government sues Facebook for defamation." 

 

Does Facebook want to talk about how the alerts are generated?

 

Human or some form of algorithm that reads headlines? 

 

 

[dcnx]

9 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

Headline tomorrow:

"Thai government sues Facebook for defamation." 

 

Does Facebook want to talk about how the alerts are generated?

 

Human or some form of algorithm that reads headlines? 

 

 

 

I smell a crackdown coming.

[IMA_FARANG]

No comment.

[Bluespunk]

"Meanwhile, police are attempting to determine whether the false bomb alert was caused by an innocent error in Facebook’s notification system or an intentional act by an individual"

 

It was caused by someone throwing 5 "ping pong firecracker bombs" (whatever they are) according to the press report. 

[Jimbo2014]

Anyone who doesnt fact check a facebook news feed these days is game for ridicule.  

[robblok]

Yea sounds like facebook.. causing trouble and then not accepting responsibility. Kinda like the case back in the Netherlands where they stonewalled an investigation. Lying through their teeth that the data was not there. When the court finally ordered that they had to comply the data was there even though they said it was not. 

[KhunBENQ]

Be prepared for New Years eve

Explosions everywhere.

 

Ah no, they are forbidden this year.

 

For refusing to use Facebook I always get strange looks.

[fish monger]

1 hour ago, robblok said:

Yea sounds like facebook.. causing trouble and then not accepting responsibility. Kinda like the case back in the Netherlands where they stonewalled an investigation. Lying through their teeth that the data was not there. When the court finally ordered that they had to comply the data was there even though they said it was not. 

Excuse me....? Like Thailand has NEVER "stonewalled an investigation", nor have they EVER lied through their teeth...? Give me a brake....! PLEASE.....!

[kevc]

The same thing happened last week with Cairo I have a friend working said she was safe and couldn't find anything about bombs going off.

Sent from my SM-P901 using Thaivisa Connect mobile app

[robblok]

8 minutes ago, fish monger said:

Excuse me....? Like Thailand has NEVER "stonewalled an investigation", nor have they EVER lied through their teeth...? Give me a brake....! PLEASE.....!

I followed the court case back in the Netherlands against facebook and it seems they act the same here. Its a big arrogant company that lies and cheats. No the data is not there (but it was recovered by an independent expert in the end) lying bastards. So I am not all surprised they are covering things up here too. 

[wealthychef]

5 hours ago, IMA_FARANG said:

No comment.

 

No comment on your comment.  

[zd1]

6 hours ago, Bluespunk said:

"Meanwhile, police are attempting to determine whether the false bomb alert was caused by an innocent error in Facebook’s notification system or an intentional act by an individual"

 

It was caused by someone throwing 5 "ping pong firecracker bombs" (whatever they are) according to the press report. 

I think the guy was a building contractor from Nan province who got ripped of, i'm also not sure what ping pong firecracker bombs are but I don't think they warrant facebook issuing this alert.

My 5 year old nephew was throwing them little paper firecracker things yesterday in the soi in north Bangkok if facebook issue another alert I can confirm i'm safe.

[impulse]

15 hours ago, zd1 said:

I think the guy was a building contractor from Nan province who got ripped of, i'm also not sure what ping pong firecracker bombs are but I don't think they warrant facebook issuing this alert.

My 5 year old nephew was throwing them little paper firecracker things yesterday in the soi in north Bangkok if facebook issue another alert I can confirm i'm safe.

 

I'd kind of like to know that a guy is tossing ping pong bombs from the roof before I go somewhere.  And I'd also appreciate knowing the status of a loved one who may be working in a building where a guy is tossing ping pong bombs off the roof.  Who knows what else a crazy like that will do next?

 

Seems like an alert was in order, even if it erred on the side of caution. 

[Eric Loh]

I see another crackdown looming and mention of political opponents of the military junta behind the rumour. Or Facebook being paid by Thaksin to spread confusion.  Waiting for the junta sycophant spokesman to make his comment.

[JHolmesJr]

Facebook has turned into a disgusting place…I cant believe people choose to get their news from there…even though the msm is bad it is usually not this much of a grey zone.

[zd1]

6 hours ago, impulse said:

 

I'd kind of like to know that a guy is tossing ping pong bombs from the roof before I go somewhere.  And I'd also appreciate knowing the status of a loved one who may be working in a building where a guy is tossing ping pong bombs off the roof.  Who knows what else a crazy like that will do next?

 

Seems like an alert was in order, even if it erred on the side of caution. 

Fella as I stated I didn't know what a ping pong firecracker bomb was, I did try to google it but it didn't answer the question of what one is but it did pull up loads of pages about making them I didn't bother clicking on these as i'm anti guns, bombs and WMD's and certainly have no wish to make them. I do know what a firecracker is though a small piece of paper filled with a powder which goes bang when you throw it on the floor, so I kind of surmised that it is probably a bigger version of that and therefore not a big risk and probably not worth reporting an explosion with a map that covers the majority of Bangkok.

As for the guy being a crazy looking into it he is or was a contractor who lost a hell of a lot of his money by being ripped off by probably inscrupilous business men and is trying to get the government to listen to his issue. He has probably been down the normal channels and has received no help and has resorted to this as a way of protest and to be honest I feel a bit sorry for him, no one got hurt but he did get his message across so maybe someone will try and help him or maybe he will punished for this who knows but I don't think he is a crazy.

We will have to agree to disagree as I think the alert wasn't in order if they keep putting out alerts for stuff like this when anything serious happens people won't take the alert seriously thinking it is another small incident, there wording of the alert explosion in Bangkok and then the map showing the majority of Bangkok when someone has thrown a firecracker is ridiculous to say the least.

Thailand is going to be one of the only countries that doesn't get a facebook alert for explosions tomorrow night at midnight when the fireworks are set of. 

[Rhys]

Cyber scouts were are you .. stop playing game and work.

 

[LennyW]

Quote

In its statement issued yesterday, Facebook said the alert was activated on the basis of confirmation by third-party sources, citing several English-language news outlets based in Thailand.

 

Does not seem to be Facebooks fault, i mean if you cant trust English-language news outlets based in Thailand, who can you trust!