BANGKOK, Dec 28 (TNA) – About 23 million Thai people shared fake news over the past two years, according to the digital economy and society minister.
Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn, Minister of Digital Economy and Society, said the Anti-Fake News Center of his ministry was set up on Nov 1, 2019, and as of Dec 23 it found that 1,167,543 people posted fake news and 23,785,145 people shared it. Most of the people, 54.5%, who posted and shared fake news were 18-24 years old.
The center screened 455,121,428 messages and found 13,262 topics that needed verifications. Of them, 6,855 concerned health issues, 5,865 government policies, 282 economic issues and 260 disaster topics, Mr. Chaiwut said.
Ajarin Pattanapanchai, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, said that next year the Anti-Fake News Center would focus on public participation. It will invite students to a contest of video clips campaigning against fake news.
Contenders can present their entries from January to March and winners will be announced in May. Each winning team will receive a scholarship worth 80,000 baht and award-winning clips will be broadcast via all channels including television channels, Ms. Ajarin said. (TNA)
