Bangkok: A government spokesman has revealed a significant cybersecurity threat emerging from Cambodia, where casino financiers are reportedly collaborating with the Cambodian government to direct call centers in launching an Internet of Things (IoT) war against Thailand via social media platforms. These coordinated efforts have resulted in over 500 million cyberattacks each day, targeting various media outlets across Thailand. The spokesman urged the Thai population to rise as cyber warriors, resisting the Cambodian campaigns that aim to sow discord among Thais.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Jirayu Huangsap, the spokesman for the Prime Minister’s Office and a member of the Special Task Force on Border Situation Administration (S.B.A.A.), disclosed that since July 23, 2015, tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have escalated into a cybersecurity conflict. Internet users from Cambodia have been engaging in cyberattacks on Thai media, creating a multitude of fake Thai accounts on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. These accounts have been used to criticize the Thai government and military, with DDoS attacks reaching over 500 million in just 24 hours.
Currently, the focus of these call center gangs has shifted from scams to inundating Thai social media with incitements for Thais to insult each other, affecting over 90% of the population. Mr. Jirayu emphasized that every Thai citizen has the potential to become a cyber warrior by countering these attacks through positive engagement on social media.
The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society and the Thai-Cambodian Border Situation Administration Center (TCASAC) have identified a sophisticated Information Operations (IO) propaganda strategy originating from Cambodia. This strategy involves financial groups, gambling dens, and call center gangs creating fake user accounts or “avatars” to flood Thai pages with spam messages. These actions are aimed at persuading Meta, the parent company of Facebook, to remove targeted pages through mass reporting.
The campaign also involves spreading false news and using bots to lend credibility to misleading information that undermines the Thai government. In response, Thai authorities have implemented geo-blocking measures to restrict content access based on user location, specifically targeting users from Cambodia.
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) and the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society are actively collaborating with Meta to prevent further attacks. Mr. Chirayu highlighted ongoing efforts by the government, in coordination with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Economy and Society Prasert Chantarawongthong, to address these cybersecurity challenges.
He cautioned the Thai public to be vigilant against news or posts that defame the government, recognizing them as part of the Cambodian IO campaign. Mr. Jirayu urged all Thais-whether in the military, government, private sector, or politics-to remain resolute in defending Thailand’s sovereignty. By collectively posting or responding positively on social media, Thais can generate over 200 million supportive posts daily, countering the hostile narratives propagated by Cambodian IO operatives.