Chaiwut Urges Election Commission to Check 'Dark Campaign Budgets', Advises Government to Crackdown on IO Information Manipulation

On Feb 15, Chaiwut Thanakhamanusorn, leader of the Rak Chart Party, commented on political parties attempting to deny involvement in social media information operations (IO). He stated that such behavior contradicts reality, with social media clearly being used to provoke hatred, distort information, and create popularity for some while destroying opponents. Chaiwut urged the Election Commission to urgently investigate hidden expenses, emphasizing that IO isn't free and involves hiring people, purchasing advertising media, and spending massive amounts of money. He warned that parties not fully declaring these budgets or exceeding legal limits could face serious consequences, including potential election rights revocation. Chaiwut also challenged digital platforms, warning that using bots, avatar accounts, or fake accounts to manipulate political discourse is illegal and must be strictly managed to prevent damage to democracy.