Info now the key weapon

The cyberattacks launched to complement Cambodian information operations (IO) have again exposed the weak cybersecurity policy in Thailand. The government must be more proactive in defending the country's online spaces, or risk losing control of the evermore-important flow of information during times of crisis.

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While the Royal Thai Army (RTA) seems to be hands-on in protecting the country, the government seems to be clueless about what to do to stem the surge of cyber attacks believed to come from legions of Cambodian-sponsored bots let loose by state-sponsored hackers.

Social media has been flooded with propaganda, doctored content and sensational fake news that supported a Cambodian agenda, burnishing the Thai army as the aggressor and painting Cambodia as the victim. These attacks are not limited to social media, either, as the databases of some local governments, private sector entities and Thai media also reported being attacked by keyboard warriors.

The big question is whether the government and responsible agencies are up to the challenge.