Justice Ministry Debunks Claim That Emoji Insults Are Criminal
The Justice Ministry clarified that posting insulting emojis is not automatically criminal; prosecution requires proof of intent to demean or harass and must meet specific legal requirements.
On July 20, 2025, the Anti-Fake News Center Thailand fact-checked a claim that posting insulting emojis is inherently criminal and can be prosecuted. The Ministry of Justice's office confirmed this claim is false. Using emojis to demean or harass another person may only be criminal if there is intent and the act meets legal requirements for offense. Determining guilt requires examining intent, context, and the specific facts of each case. Using an emoji alone does not automatically constitute a crime or grounds for prosecution—courts must consider intent, context, and the circumstances of the communication in question. If emojis are used with intent to insult, belittle, or cause someone embarrassment or distress, they may violate criminal law. However, ordinary emoji use or use without intent to demean does not necessarily constitute an offense.
