Government urges caution over online April Fool’s Day jokes
The government has urged the public to take extra care with posts shared on April Fool’s Day, warning that online jokes that cause harm or public panic may break the law and carry penalties including prison and fines.
Deputy Government spokesperson Airin Phanrit said April 1 is observed each year as April Fool’s Day, when people often make up stories for fun or to tease friends. She warned that once posted online, false posts can be quickly re-shared and lead to harm or panic.
Naewna reported that the government, together with the Royal Thai Police, advised people to be cautious when creating or sharing false content. The statement cited possible offences, including:
Defamation by advertising under Section 328 of the Criminal Code covers posts or shares that damage someone’s reputation, expose them to insult, or make others hate them.
This can also include joining in by sharing the post or leaving abusive comments. The penalty is up to two years in prison and a fine of up to 200,000 baht.
The Computer Crime Act covers posting or sharing false information online that affects national security, public safety, the economy, public services, or causes public panic. The penalty is up to five years in prison and a fine of up to 100,000 baht, or both.
Airin linked the warning to the ongoing situation in the Middle East, saying the conflict has contributed to an energy crisis, and urged the public to share accurate, publicly useful information.
She told people to carefully check information before reposting, and said fake news cases can be reported at a local police station or through the 191 and 1599 hotlines, which operate 24 hours a day.
In a separate incident, a passenger from Pattani caused panic on a Don Mueang to Hat Yai flight by making a bomb joke in the local dialect. The airline had since filed a complaint over the incident.
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