Thai Army denies online ops, says it’s just ‘correcting facts’
Social media tactics under scrutiny as critics say covert campaigns persist despite regime change
The Royal Thai Army (RTA) claims that it does not engage in online military-style information-influencing operations but instead provides factual corrections to misleading social media information.
During a House Committee on National Security meeting, the army spokesperson discussed the state’s use of social media. The session included representatives from the Office of Policy and Planning, Internal Security Operations Command, and Royal Thai Police (RTP), who clarified their roles in the alleged use of coordinated inauthentic behaviour.
Rangsiman Rome, deputy leader of the People’s Party and committee chairman, highlighted that the issue of information operations (IO) is not new, having been raised since General Prayut Chan-o-cha’s coup regime when IO tactics targeting activists, academics, and politicians were exposed and removed by Facebook. He stated that, contrary to expectations, these operations have intensified under the current civilian government.
Rangsiman criticised the use of taxpayers’ money for spreading fake news or hate speech, which could foster division, contradicting the military’s mission of national unity. He acknowledged that IO might be justified in international military conflicts but argued that using such tactics domestically against Thai citizens undermines national security and hampers efforts to address genuine threats like drug trafficking.
In response, Major General Winthai Suvaree told the committee that the army does not conduct IO in the manner critics suggest. He explained that while IO is a globally recognised military term, especially in wartime, the Thai army employs standard communication methods to correct misinformation and enhance public understanding. These actions are carried out transparently, reported Bangkok Post.
Legal mechanisms such as the Computer Crime Act or defamation laws are available to address inaccurate or inappropriate content. Maj. Gen. Winthai noted that individuals like politicians or academics might be monitored due to their influential positions.
Latest Thailand News
Follow The Thaiger on Google News:
