Curb online hate now

As Thailand and Cambodia observe a truce, a group of social media users is pursuing aggressive online campaigns to incite hatred between the peoples of the two countries.

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These netizens, who describe themselves as digital creators, typically use disinformation and fake news to attract people in a bid to increase engagement and earn more income. This occurs on both sides of the border.

This week, at least one Thai Facebook page posted what appeared to be a fierce reaction from the caretaker foreign minister to a senator and human rights advocate over her alleged call for state assistance to Cambodia in forest-fire combat and scholarships for Cambodian schoolchildren.

However, the information was entirely fabricated. The senator had made no such proposal. The post quickly attracted several thousand views in a short time — an easy way to generate revenue.

As usual, commenters on the page verbally attacked the senator, falsely branding her unpatriotic while making derogatory remarks about Cambodians, creating a toxic atmosphere among people who fall victim to hate campaigns.