Bangkok: The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DE) has issued a warning to the public, advising against the spread and belief in fake news, particularly regarding claims that the government will disburse 10,000 baht in digital payments by September 2025. This false information emerged as the most popular fake news item of the week, followed by misleading reports about an impending tropical storm in Thailand.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Wetangk Phuangsap, Secretary-General of the National Digital Economy and Society Commission (BDE) and spokesperson for the DE, highlighted findings from the Anti-Fake News Center's monitoring efforts. Between September 12 and 18, 2025, the center processed over one million messages, with 795 requiring verification. Social Listening was the primary channel for these messages, followed by Line Official and Facebook.
The center identified five main categories of fake news, with government policy and international security leading the list, followed by health products, disasters, and online crime. The most attention-grabbing fake news stories included claims about digital payments, a tropical storm, and various health products, among others.
Mr. Wetangk emphasized that the claim of a 10,000 baht digital money payment by September 2025 is false, as confirmed by coordination with the Fiscal Policy Office, Ministry of Finance. The government has not implemented such a policy, and any future economic measures will be communicated through official channels.
Similarly, the report of a tropical storm approaching Thailand in the coming days was debunked by the Meteorological Department. The Ministry assured that any actual storm threats would be announced in advance to ensure public safety.
The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MES) remains vigilant about the spread of fake news, urging the public to rely on verified information from government sources. The dissemination of false information can lead to confusion, panic, and potential harm to individuals and their properties.