Bangkok: A warning has been issued against sharing posts that criticize a video clip in which the phrase “Sit down, sir” was edited to “Sit down, son.” The Constitutional Court has announced its intention to take action under cyber law against those responsible for the distortion.

According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Jirayu Huangsap, an advisor to the Prime Minister and former chairman of the Committee on Judicial Affairs of the Independent Organization of the Attorney General, addressed the issue concerning the alteration of the Prime Minister’s words during a witness examination. During the session, a Constitutional Court judge originally instructed, “Sit down, sir,” but the words were subsequently distorted to suggest the judge said, “Sit down, my child.” This led to demands that the government sue the creators and disseminators of the altered clip. However, Mr. Jirayu emphasized that the judiciary, not the executive branch, is the affected party.

The Constitutional Court released a statement detailing its intent to pursue legal action due to the dissemination of false and distorted information about its investigation process. This misinformation has led to public misunderstanding and damage to the court’s reputation. The court clarified that the judge actually said, “Sit down,” and highlighted that such distortion and dissemination are offenses under the Computer Crimes Act B.E. 2550 (2007) and other relevant laws. It also constitutes contempt of court under specific sections of the Organic Act on Constitutional Court Procedure B.E. 2561 (2018) and the Constitutional Court Regulations on Constitutional Case Procedure B.E. 2562 (2019).

Mr. Jirayu further remarked on the ease with which images and sounds can be manipulated in the digital age, making it difficult to discern authenticity. He urged media consumers to exercise caution and refrain from sharing, posting, or commenting if they are uncertain about the content’s validity. He warned that many individuals might face legal repercussions, particularly those who unknowingly engage with the misleading content.