Thailand bans sharing of information that sparks public fear amid pandemic criticism | Coronavirus

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The Thai government has banned sharing of information that provokes public fear, even if the information is true, as officials face growing criticism of their handling of the pandemic.

The government on Thursday toughened an emergency decree imposed more than a year ago that initially targeted fake news.

The latest restrictions prohibit people from disseminating information that provokes public fear, or sharing distorted information that causes misunderstandings that affect national stability.

The measures have been widely condemned by media groups and rights experts as attempts to silence negative reporting and silence debate.

Sunai Phasuk, senior researcher on Thailand in the Asia division of Human Rights Watchs, described it as a blow to press freedom in the country.

I think the government realizes that it is now facing a credibility crisis because of this disastrous response to the Covid situation, but instead of trying to find better solutions, more effective solutions, it is choosing to prevent anyone from talking about his failures, he said. This provision does not care about correctness or whether it is true or false.

Under the regulations, if fake content is broadcast online, the country’s broadcasting regulator will contact Internet service providers to identify individuals’ IP addresses and block their access to the Internet.

Internet service providers who fail to comply will be deemed to have violated their operating license requirements and action will be taken against them.

Sunai said he was concerned the measures would be used against journalists and online critics who use social media to share political information and comments that do not flatter the government.

The measures come as Thailand struggles to contain a worsening Covid epidemic that has overwhelmed hospitals and caused economic misery.

The government has been particularly criticized for its delayed vaccination campaign: around 5% of the population is fully vaccinated. Online, images of people dying on the streets have circulated, fueling public anger at the government.

Officials have warned the public against posting such images and cracked down on celebrities who criticized the government’s response.

Tipanan Sirichana, of the Prime Minister’s Office secretariat, said on Thursday that citizens who violated the emergency decree or the nations’ computer crimes while commenting on the Covid situation could face fines or jail.

People should check the source of the images on social media before sharing them, she said, adding: You may be involved in spreading distorted information that creates chaos and discourages people who work.

Deputy police spokesperson Col. Kissana Phathanacharoen said although many images shared online showed Covid victims dying on the streets, there were also many [instances of] distorted information there. One image posted online was of a drunk person, he said.

Authorities have worked tirelessly with the Ministry of the Digital Economy and Society to crack down on those with malicious intentions, he added.

He said the emergency measure would not be used to target truthful reporting. If you share real information, but that information causes chaos in society, that’s great, Kissana said.

In recent weeks, officials have targeted online influencers and celebrities who have criticized their handling of the country’s worsening epidemic. Teenage rapper Danupa Khanatheerakul, known as Milli, paid 2,000 baht (44) after being accused of defaming Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha in criticizing the government’s response.

Yutthalert Sippaphak, a prominent director, is also said to be the subject of a complaint, while Miss Grand Thailand 2020, Patcharporn Chantharapradit, said he received a summons from the police.

As of Friday, 17,345 cases of Covid-19 were reported, including 117 deaths. The total number of deaths in the country has risen to 4,679, from less than 100 deaths just four months ago. The latest wave was driven by the more infectious Delta variant, and exacerbated by the delayed vaccination schedule.

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