Thailand to set up centre to combat ‘fake news’

Thai Minister of Digital Economy and Society, Phutthipong Punnakan, center, greets during a news conference to announce the launching of government run anti-fake news center in Bangkok, Thailand Wednesday, Aug. 21. 2019. Phutthipong Punnakan said Wednesday the planned center's goal would be to fight all kinds of fake news, with a focus on misinformation concerning disasters and financial matters, each of which would be handled by its own department.(AP Photo/Pitcha Dangprasith)

BANGKOK: Thailand's government on Aug 21 announced a plan to set up a centre to combat unverified news on social media platforms, rejecting concerns that it might be used to suppress free speech.

The planned centre's goal would be to fight all kinds of fake news, with a focus on misinformation about disasters and financial matters, Minister of Digital Economy and Society Buddhipongse Punnakanta said.