and harass critics, censor critical content, and the use of spyware. The issues related to the monarchy are sensitive topics in Thailand, with conservatives and royalists refusing to allow any discussion of reform of the monarchy. Their intransigence prevents democracy from prospering in the country. They consider efforts to raise the issues as an attempt to overthrow the revered institution. In 2021, the constitutional court, dominated by conservative judges, ruled that reforming the monarchy is unconstitutional. The case arose in relation to calls from leaders of the protests in 2020-2021 to curb the role of the royal family by preventing them from interfering with politics318. The lèse-majesté law, or Article 112 of the Criminal Code, is the law that protects the immediate members of the royal family. It has long been used as a political weapon. Many people have been put in jail for their critical views and expressions on the institution. When critical narratives on the monarchy are expressed online, the law is often used together with the Computer Crime Act, another repressive law that regulates online narratives. 318 In the 2023 general election, the progressive Move Forward Party’s campaign platform included amending the lèse-majesté law. However, the party’s amendment proposal became the subject of a petition by conservatives which was submitted to the Constitutional Court. The party, and its predecessor Future Forward, has been the object of attacks by the conservatives who hide their political agenda by using different legal tactics. Even though the MFP was able to gain the most seats in the parliament, they were unable to form a government when most junta-appointed senators refused to cooperate during the vote for the prime minister. The second biggest party, Pheu Thai, then set up the government by joining hands with military-aligned parties that formed the previous government. Srettha Thavisin from the Pheu Thai Party then became prime minister in August 2023. Progress on human rights had been limited since the new government was formed. While the MFP became an opposition party, it continued to be target of both online and offline attacks by the conservatives and supporters of Pheu Thai Party. There is evidence that the state-initiated information operations are still conducted against critics and dissidents, especially for issues related to the monarchy. Ratcliffe, Rebecca. “Thai Court Rules Calls for Curbs on Monarchy Are ‘Abuse of Freedoms.’” The Guardian, 10 Nov. 2021, www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/10/thai-court-rules-calls-for-curbs-on-monarchyare-abuse-of-freedoms. 88