Bangkok: “Winthai” stated that the page criticizing politicians does not belong to the military. “Winthai”, the army spokesman, appeared to clarify to the House Security Committee, confirming that the army does not have an IO operation, admitting that the goal is to track down people who have a negative attitude towards the military in order to clarify and understand. He said that the page criticizing politicians does not belong to the army, challenging anyone who finds them to file a lawsuit. Meanwhile, “Rome” disagrees with using IO to track down politicians.
According to Thai News Agency, Rangsiman Rome, MP of the Prachachon Party and Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on State Security, Thai Border Affairs, National Strategy and Reform, gave an interview before the committee’s meeting to consider studying information operations (IO) on social media of security agencies that affect people’s rights and freedoms. He mentioned that he had invited relevant agencies to provide clarification to the committee, which was attended by representatives from various security and legal bodies including the Royal Thai Army and the Royal Thai Police.
Mr. Rangsiman noted that the IO issue was not new, having occurred multiple times during past censure debates and affecting the public, academics, and politicians. Despite the transition to a civilian government by the Pheu Thai Party, IO operations have intensified rather than diminished, creating a significant problem that the committee aims to address with the help of pertinent agencies.
Rangsiman expressed concern over the misuse of taxpayer money for information operations filled with fake news and division, contrary to the army’s ideology. He criticized the use of IO tools against domestic entities rather than in warfare scenarios against other nations, stating it undermines national security by treating citizens as adversaries.
During the meeting, security agencies, including ISOC and the Ministry of Defense, asserted they do not conduct IO operations but focus on fostering understanding of their roles and supporting government work. Maj. Gen. Winthai Suvari emphasized that the army uses IO as a communication tool for national defense missions, aiming to correct misinformation and protect the organization’s honor through public relations, rather than aggressive actions.
Maj. Gen. Winthai further explained that the military employs online channels to address inaccuracies, targeting individuals with significant followings, such as politicians or academics. He stressed that the military’s aim is to confront misinformation with facts and that any misleading claims against politicians falsely attributed to military agencies could lead to legal action to establish the truth.