Mr. Wetang Puangsap, spokesperson for the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DE) civil service, reported on the monitoring and fake news reports by the Anti-Fake News Center Thailand (AFNC). This is in line with the policy of Minister Chaiyachon Chidchob to prevent and resolve security and social threats by emphasizing awareness of technology crimes, fake news, and misinformation.
On 22 Apr 2026 GMT+7, AFNC found a total of 161,301 messages, with 4,475 requiring verification. The leading sources of leads were Social Listening with 2,300 messages, followed by Line Official with 2,171 messages, X (Twitter) with 1 message, and Websites with 3 messages. There were 19 topics under verification, with 8 confirmed by relevant agencies. Among these, seven stories attracted the most public interest, including three true and four false news stories.
Rank 1 Fake News The claim that Tom Yum Goong is a recipe invented by Cambodians under the name "Sour Shrimp".
Rank 2 True News The government assigned BAAC to prepare a half-interest loan project.
Rank 3 True News Children under five years old are the group most affected by parainfluenza virus infections.
Rank 4 True News The special poor student fund has been adjusted for the year 2026.
Rank 5 Fake News The Stock Exchange posted advertisements inviting people to join free stock investment activities.
Rank 6 Fake News Immigration officials allegedly accepted bribes of 10,000 baht per person to smuggle workers across the Thai border.
Rank 7 Fake News Claims that the D-Sure Gold product can cure diabetes completely.
The top fake news claiming “Tom Yum Goong was invented by Cambodians under the name ‘Sour Shrimp’” has been checked by the DE Ministry together with the Fine Arts Department of the Ministry of Culture and confirmed as "fake news." The claim that Cambodia asserts Tom Yum Goong under a different name and credits themselves as its inventor lacks credible academic or historical evidence.
UNESCO officially registered "Tom Yum Goong" as an intangible cultural heritage of Thailand on 4 Dec 2024 GMT+7, recognizing it internationally as a distinctive Thai dish passed down through generations, characterized by its unique flavor and use of Thai herbs.
Historical and cultural matters should be verified with official or reliable sources before sharing. Spreading unverified information can cause misunderstandings and unnecessary social conflicts.
The DE Ministry is concerned about public awareness regarding fake news spreading on online and social media. Without media literacy, people may believe and share fake news, causing misinformation, damage to property or personal data, and broader societal impact. The public is urged to trust and share only information from official agencies and to verify news and website links carefully.
If the public encounters suspicious or misleading information, they can report and verify fake news via hotline 1111 ext. 87 (24 hours) or through the following channels:
Websitewww.antifakenewscenter.com
Line ID: @antifakenewscenter
Facebook:Anti-Fake News Center Thailand
X: @AFNCThailand
TikTok: @antifakenewscenter
Instagram: afnc_thailand