Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has complained about the spread of fake news on social media, one item of which recently related to his wife.
He said today (Tuesday) that the fake news in question claimed his wife, Mrs. Naraporn, is a Muslim, adding it is general knowledge that his wife is a Buddhist, who presents alms to monks and pays respect to monks and Buddha images.
The Prime Minister also cited another false report about the Government increasing tax on feminine hygiene products, which, he claimed had been posted in social media by a politician.
He pleaded with members of the public to exercise caution and not to share fake news, adding that, if the false report causes damage, legal action will be taken.
Minister of Digital Economy and Society, Puttipong Punnakanta, said today that the Anti-Fake News Centre and computer crime police have been preparing legal action against the opposition Pheu Chart party’s spokeswoman Ms. Katepreeya Kaewsaengmuang for spreading the false story about the tax increases.
Ms. Katepreeya, however, maintained that she acted in good faith when she re-posted the story from a website, adding that she does not want women to bear an increased financial burden.
He added that legal advisors to the Prime Minister’s Office will also lodge a complaint with the computer crime police against Future Forward spokeswoman Ms. Pannika Wanich for distorting the Prime Minister’s motto for Thai children on National Children’s Day, which reads “Thai Children must uphold unity and be responsible Thai citizens”.
Ms. Pannika’s Children’s Day motto is “Thai Children must go to Skywalk”, presumably in reference to the recent rally by her party’s supporters at a similarly named venue in Bangkok.
Ms. Pannika denied she was responsible for twisting the Prime Minister’s motto.
