Post by : Shakul
Thailand's Ministry of Digital Economy and Society is sounding the alarm over misleading reports circulating about a national identity card associated with an individual named Cheng Zhaowu. This rumor suggested that the identity card was personally endorsed by a former Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration, raising confusion on social media.
Wethang Puangsap, a spokesperson for the Ministry, revealed the findings from the Anti-Fake News Center. Officials confirmed the claims were misleading rather than factual. They highlighted how crucial it is for the public to stay informed to combat the rising tide of online misinformation and tech-related crime.
The ministry explained that the name and signature on the disputed identity card belong to the Director-General from that time. However, they clarified that this name and signature are commonplace on all national ID cards from that period, implying no specific endorsement of individual applications.
Verifications and issuances of Thai national identity cards are managed by local officials at district and municipal offices. These officers personally examine documents and identities before any card is issued. If there are discrepancies, investigations are carried out locally, without the Director-General's direct involvement.
According to the Anti-Fake News Center, more than 160,000 online messages were surveyed up to May 26, 2026, with over 4,400 flagged for further verification. Many of these were detected via social listening tools, while additional reports came through official Line and Facebook channels.
Recently, several misleading stories gained traction, including false claims about military actions, Cambodian labor issues, alerts on banking fraud, and infrastructure problems. Authorities cautioned that unchecked dissemination of such information could provoke public unrest, misunderstandings, and pose risks to personal and financial security.
The Ministry urged citizens to rely solely on verified information from credible sources prior to sharing news online. They advised the public to meticulously scrutinize website links and information to help curb the spread of misinformation that could have far-reaching societal impacts.
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