Govt’s anti-fake news centre gets help

The government’s anti-fake news board has resolved to set up two panels to support its Anti-Fake News Centre to better tackle what it considers to be a worsening problem.

The board decided to form the two new committees at its meeting on Friday, Digital Economy and Society Minister Buddhipongse Punnakanta revealed yesterday.

The first new committee will serve as an academic support team to the centre while the second will provide a news analysis and screening service, said the minister.

The academic support committee will comprise academics and experts who will work together to improve the public’s fake news literacy, while the news analysis and screening committee will be responsible for monitoring the media and alerting the centre to verified fake news, he said.

The analysis committee will consist of representatives from various organisations, both governmental and nongovernmental, including the Technology Crime Suppression Division and the Thai News Agency’s Sure Kon Share (Be sure before sharing it) centre.

The board had also resolved to require every government organisation to formally appoint a representative to take prompt legal action against any person or group behind any act of spreading fake news, said Mr Buddhipongse.

According to the minister, the problem of fabricated news online is worsening.

As of last Thursday, the Anti-Fake News Centre had dealt with 52 news stories about the new coronavirus, 41 of which were proved to be false, 10 true and one involving distorted information, he said.