Bangkok: Lalida Periswiwatana, Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, has countered accusations from Rakchanok Srinok, a Member of Parliament from the People's Party, alleging that the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society is involved in Information Operations (IO). Lalida has asked for concrete evidence to substantiate these claims, emphasizing that suspicions should not be mistaken for facts.
According to Thai News Agency, the allegations arose when Rakchanok expressed concerns over social media accounts supporting the TH-AI Passport (AiPASS) project, suspecting them to be part of an IO linked to the ministry. Lalida acknowledged the right to question and scrutinize government work but stressed the necessity of backing accusations with clear evidence. She underlined that the presence of newly created user accounts without consistent activity might warrant further investigation. However, this alone does not suffice to conclude that the accounts are part of an IO scheme orchestrated by government agencies.
Lalida stated that any evidence proving the ministry's involvement should be made public for scrutiny, including documentation of orders, hiring, or financial disbursements linked to the operation. Without this, the allegations remain suspicions rather than facts. Furthermore, she noted that while newly created accounts could signal the need for investigation, they should not be the sole evidence for accusations of state-sponsored operations.
She questioned the standards of investigation, urging that the same requirement for evidence be applied when accusations are made against the government. Lalida emphasized that conclusions drawn without solid evidence risk creating a double standard, where the government is held to a different level of scrutiny than its accusers.
Lalida reiterated that the government is open to scrutiny of the TH-AI Passport project and welcomes inspection of every aspect, including budget allocation and public outcomes. She stressed that any investigation should be thorough and supported by evidence, benefiting both the public and the government through increased transparency.
She concluded by affirming the government's readiness to address all criticisms regarding the TH-AI Passport project, provided that allegations are supported by verifiable evidence. Emphasizing the importance of factual accuracy, Lalida stated that both the government and the opposition should adhere to the same standards in their investigations and accusations.