The Ministry places a high priority on raising public awareness of crimes related to technology, fake news and.

BANGKOK January 17, 2026 The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society of Thailand warned the public about a false claim spreading online that new rules limit visa-free entry for foreign nationals to twice a year. Vatana Puangsuwan, the ministry's spokesperson, said the warning came after monitoring and reports processed by Thailand's Center for the Prevention and Suppression of Threats and Social Threats, in line with the government's policy to prevent and counter security threats and social threats. The ministry prioritizes raising public awareness of technology-related crimes, fake news, and disinformation. On January 15, 2026, the center analyzed 157,300 online messages, of which 4,815 required verification. Most of the marked content came from social media monitoring (4,810 messages), followed by five messages from the Line Official channel. In total, 34 questions required an investigation, two of which have already been verified by relevant authorities. Among the seven messages that drew the most public attention, four were found to be fake news and three were misleading. The most widely spread false news claimed that the new rule allows foreigners to enter Thailand without a visa only twice a year. The Ministry stated that it was coordinated with the Immigration Bureau, which confirmed the falsity of the claim. There were no amendments to the law introducing such a restriction, and no clear legal basis was established. The Immigration Bureau continues to apply existing measures, including stricter checks on foreigners who frequently enter and leave the country, acting in a scheme similar to so-called "visa runs (border runs)". Among other widely spread messages were misleading statements about health, unconfirmed claims of large cash withdrawals before elections, as well as false reports of online lottery sales, foreign staff recruitment, and loan offers advertised through social media. The Ministry called on the public to remain vigilant about information spread online, warning that believing in false news or spreading them could lead to misunderstandings, financial losses, or damage to personal data, resulting in broader social consequences. In it, it was recommended to trust and share information only from official sources, as well as carefully verify facts and website links before sharing them. Source: [link] For readers: Check information in official sources before sharing it to avoid spreading false news.