Six slapped with fines, jail time for COVID fake news
Eighteen people have been prosecuted for posting fake news online about the Covid-19 pandemic and vaccine rollout, Digital Economy and Society (DES) Minister Chaiwut Thanakmanusorn said on Monday. The fake-news posts had distorted information and undermined public order, drawing charges under the Computer Crime Act 2007 and emergency decree, he added.
Six of the offenders were either jailed or fined while the remaining 12 were let off with a warning after they deleted the content and promised not to repeat the offence.
The DES minister warned that people who spread false or misleading information face up to five years in prison and a maximum fine of 100,000 baht under the Computer Crime Act and two years and a 40,000 baht fine under the emergency decree.
