Amnesty International is calling on Thai authorities to stop state-sponsored cyberattacks and smear campaigns targeting civil society groups, including itself. The human rights organization condemned the escalating digital assault on activists, defenders, and NGOs, emphasizing that these attacks threaten fundamental rights such as freedom of expression, association, and privacy.
Chanatip Tatiyakaroonwong, Amnesty’s Thailand researcher, described the cyberattacks as an “outrageous assault on Thailand’s civic space,” urging immediate action from Thai authorities to cease these malicious tactics.
The call follows the release of internal documents by opposition parliamentarian Chayaphon Satondee, which revealed a “Cyber Team” within Thailand’s police and military, including the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC). The documents identified prominent human rights organizations and pro-democracy figures as “high-value targets” for cyberattacks. These efforts involve phishing, brute-force attacks, and fake websites designed to steal personal data, as well as digital manipulation for political purposes, such as inciting discussions or gathering evidence for prosecution.
In 2024, cyber operations targeted 85 entities, with nearly 85,000 cyber incidents reported, including more than 44,000 phishing attempts and over 26,000 brute-force attacks. These tactics have persisted, with weekly attacks continuing after September 2024.
Amnesty International asserts that these operations violate international human rights protections under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), particularly the rights to freedom of expression, assembly, and privacy.
This pattern of digital repression is part of a broader trend of authoritarian practices in Thailand. Previous reports have highlighted the use of Pegasus spyware to infiltrate dissidents’ mobile phones and gather sensitive data. In addition, Amnesty has documented how digital technology is used to facilitate gender-based violence, particularly targeting women and LGBTI activists, creating an environment of fear among human rights defenders.
Amnesty’s call to action underscores the growing concerns over Thailand’s use of digital surveillance and cyberattacks as a tool for silencing opposition, presenting a serious threat to the integrity of civil society and democratic freedoms in the country.
Excerpts from Divyabharthi Baradhan jurist.com article | JURIST Staff, MY
