Thailand: Four held for fake news over coronavirus outbreak
Four more people were arrested for allegedly spreading fake news about the coronavirus outbreak, Digital Economy and Society Minister Buddhipongse Punnakanta said on February 18.
Digital Economy and Society Minister Buddhipongse Punnakanta (Photo: bangkokpost.com)
Bangkok (VNA) – Four more people were arrested for allegedlyspreading fake news about the coronavirus outbreak, Digital Economy and SocietyMinister Buddhipongse Punnakanta said on February 18.
One suspect was arrested in Bo Win of Chon Buri'sSi Racha district, the second in Chachoengsao's Ban Pho district, the third inChiang Mai's Muang district, and the fourth in Nan's Pua district.
According to Buddhipongse, his ministry was closely monitoring the internet andsocial media for fake news, and will take immediate legal action against anyonefound spreading unsubstantiated claims.
Penalty for disseminating fake news via a computer system,according to the Computer Crime Act, can result in up to seven years in jailand/or a fine of 140,000 THB (4,488 USD).
Separately, a government board set up to deal with fake news has resolved toform two panels to support its Anti-Fake News Centre because controlling thespread of fake claims is overwhelmingly complex. One of the new panels willprovide academic support to the centre, while the second will analyse reportsand screen them for factual errors, the minister said.
Thailand has reported 35 COVID-19 cases so far, and the number of patients makingfull recovery is now 17./.
Thailand confirmed six new cases of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infections on February 4, with four of them being Thai nationals and the other two being Chinese.
Thai authorities have so far arrested six persons from various locations for spreading fake coronavirus, said Digital Economy and Society (DES) Minister Buddhipongse Punakanta.
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Digital Economy and Society Minister Buddhipongse Punnakanta (Photo: bangkokpost.com) 
