Police Urge Media to Limit Shooter's Name, Photos
Thailand's deputy police commissioner has asked media and social media users to limit coverage of a shooter's identity and images to prevent copycat attacks and protect the perpetrator's uninvolved family members.
Deputy National Police Commissioner Trairongc Phiwphanan, acting as National Police Office spokesman, posted on Facebook requesting cooperation from the media, news pages, and social media users to reduce the spread of the shooter's name, face, and background in ways that would make that person a center of attention. The key reason is not only to protect family members who were not perpetrators and should not be socially punished, but also relates to preventing future incidents.
Investigation findings revealed a significant behavioral pattern: the perpetrator had compared foreign mass shooting incidents before carrying out the attack. This requires us to be cautious about the copycat effect and the pursuit of recognition or notoriety from violent acts, as many active shooter cases worldwide show that some perpetrators study past incidents, compare themselves with other perpetrators, or seek to be remembered.
Therefore, in news reporting, I propose a simple principle: "Give coverage to victims and rescuers rather than the perpetrator." We can report facts, analyze causes, issue warnings, and extract lessons to prevent recurrence without making the perpetrator's name and face repeatedly publicized images. We should particularly avoid presenting it in a way that could become a "platform for announcement" that might fulfill the motivations of those wanting to copycat.
I ask for cooperation from the media and all social media users: unless there is a public interest necessity, please reduce the spread of the perpetrator's name and photo. Let us remember the victims, remember those who helped, and remember the lessons so this never happens again—but let us not together build a "reputation" for someone who chose violence.
