Deputy DE Minister Strengthens Anti-Fake News Network in Northeast, Boosts Public Awareness Against Online Scams
Ms. Nann Boontida Somchai, Deputy Minister of Digital Economy and Society (DE), presided over the opening ceremony of the 2nd Workshop on Media Literacy and Fake News Response under the Anti Fake News Center (AFNC) Project in Ubon Ratchathani Province.
Ms. Nann Boontida stated that Mr. Chaichanok Chidchob, Minister of Digital Economy and Society, has assigned the Ministry to prioritize the prevention and mitigation of security and social threats by enhancing public awareness of technology-related crimes, fake news, and disinformation. The initiative aims to strengthen networks among government agencies, private-sector organizations, and the public to help expand accurate information sharing and encourage citizens to verify information before forwarding or publishing it on online platforms. The workshop was organized to establish and strengthen anti-fake news networks throughout the Northeastern region.
The Anti Fake News Center has served as an important platform through which the public can follow verified information, report suspicious content, and fact-check misleading information quickly and reliably. It also plays a key role in disseminating knowledge and combating misinformation to build societal resilience against fake news. To date, AFNC has established cooperation agreements with more than 400 government agencies, private organizations, and civil society partners nationwide.
Between January 1 and May 31, 2026, AFNC screened a total of 24.4 million messages. Of those reviewed, 1,027 cases were verified as factual information, while 954 cases were identified as fake news or misleading content.
Meanwhile, fake news continues to be exploited by scammers as a tool for online fraud, resulting in financial losses and personal data exposure. According to data from the Anti Online Scam Operation Center (AOC 1441) covering the period from November 1, 2023, to May 31, 2026, the Northeastern region’s 20 provinces recorded 126,591 scam cases, causing total damages exceeding 7.7 billion baht.
In Ubon Ratchathani Province alone, authorities recorded 8,833 scam cases with damages exceeding 478 million baht, ranking fourth in the Northeastern region after Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Kaen, and Udon Thani. The three most common scam categories were:
- Online purchase and service fraud: 4,166 cases, causing losses of 40 million baht;
- Fraudulent job offers requiring money transfers for extra-income opportunities: 1,190 cases, causing losses of 117 million baht; and
- Prize-winning scams requiring money transfers: 1,037 cases, causing losses of 79 million baht.
The Northeastern region also shares extensive border areas with neighboring countries. Therefore, authorities must remain vigilant against fake news related to border security and public safety. Statistics show that between January and May 2026, more than 3.9 million messages concerning border security issues were monitored. After verification, 220 cases were classified as fake or misleading news, while 224 cases were confirmed as factual information.
“The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society places great importance on building networks among the government, private sector, and civil society to jointly combat the spread of fake news. At the same time, we are committed to raising public awareness and strengthening digital literacy so that citizens can better recognize online threats and reduce the impact and damage caused by cybercrime,” the Deputy Minister said.