Israel Tackles Fake News Targeting Tourists in Thailand

Israel's ambassador to Thailand, Dr. Orna Fisher-Kam, is actively combating a surge of fake news and disinformation targeting Israeli tourists on social media. She recently met with the Commissioner of Thailand's Central Investigation Bureau, Lieutenant General Nathathas Chaovanasai, to discuss legal measures and investigative strategies against the spread of false information.

The Israeli Embassy emphasized its commitment to promoting accurate information and collaborating with Thai authorities to foster responsible reporting. This initiative comes amid a wave of fabricated accusations against Israeli travelers circulating online, often accompanied by outdated or misattributed videos.

One widely shared incident involved a group of tourists allegedly leaving a restaurant in Patong, Phuket, without paying for approximately 8,000 baht worth of food and drinks. While some social media posts identified the group as Israeli, police investigations revealed the individuals were a Saudi man and three Moroccan women.

However, the embassy acknowledged that alongside false accusations, some videos do depict actual incidents involving Israeli tourists. One such video shows a verbal altercation between a local mobile shop owner and an Israeli couple over a "Free Palestine" flag displayed at the store. This footage also gained significant traction on Thai social media platforms.