AFP Thailand

These photos have circulated in reports about protests in the US in 2011 and 2018

Published on 5 June 2020 at 04:30

Two photos have been shared hundreds of times in multiple Facebook posts published in May 2020 alongside a claim they show protests in the US. The claim is misleading; the photos have circulated online since 2011 and 2018 respectively in reports about a 2011 Occupy Wall Street protest in New York City and a rally organised by the far-left group Antifa in the US state of Oregon in 2018.

Health experts refute misleading claim that consuming durian and cola together can be lethal

Published on 3 June 2020 at 04:10

Multiple Facebook posts shared thousands of times claim that consuming durian and cola together can be lethal. The claim is false; health experts told AFP that durian and cola can be consumed together safely.

Hoax circulates that Bank of Thailand has released fresh statistics on retirement

Published on 29 May 2020 at 10:20

Multiple posts shared tens of thousands of times on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and on multiple Thai websites claim the Bank of Thailand (BOT) has issued statistics on living expenses for retirees. The claim is false; a BOT spokesperson told AFP the central bank had not collected or released such data.

Misinformation recirculates in Thailand claiming elderly allowances have increased

Published on 28 May 2020 at 09:45

Multiple posts on Facebook and messaging app Line shared in May 2020 claim monthly government allowances for elderly people in Thailand have been increased. The claim is false; on May 27, Thailand's Department of Older Persons denied there had been any increase to elderly stipends; the Thai government separately labelled the posts “fake news”.

Thai health experts dismiss false claim attributed to 'Taiwanese doctor' that you should treat a stroke patient with a needle

Published on 27 May 2020 at 11:10

Multiple Facebook posts shared tens of thousands of times by Thai Facebook users claim you can treat a person experiencing a hemorrhagic stroke by pricking them with a needle. The claim was attributed to a "Taiwanese senior doctor". The claim is false; health experts warned against using needles to treat stroke victims, saying anyone showing symptoms of a stroke should be taken to a hospital.