memory and processing power, causing the system to become slow or completely
inaccessible. A fake Wi-Fi access point—often called an “evil twin”—is a fraudulent network
that imitates a legitimate one to trick users into connecting. Once connected, the attacker
can intercept and monitor the user’s online activity, potentially stealing sensitive information
such as passwords and personal data.
The documents also reveal that the military knows how to use a social listening tool
to analyze topics of interest. Based on information in the documents, the tool is intended
to help them plan their operations, as it shows which topics are trending and the social
media sentiment toward those topics.
C. Implications of the Situations on Human Rights and Democracy
The most concerning digital rights challenge in Thailand is the growing sophistication
of state-affiliated information operations (IO), which now involve coordinated agendas
across different military and police units. Leaked documents have raised further concerns
that these cyber armies are equipped with social listening tools to analyze online sentiment,
are learning to generate AI-driven content, and are expanding other surveillance methods
targeting individuals and groups.
State-affiliated cyber armies are harmful to human rights and democracy because they
seek to manipulate public opinion for political purposes by silencing critical voices and
flooding social media platforms with disinformation and propaganda. When these
operations are state-affiliated, taxpayers’ money is often used to fund activities that reflect
the political interests of those directing them. The erosion of democracy can be severe if
these operations succeed, leading to self-censorship among critics and widespread
public acceptance of disinformation and propaganda spread by these cyber armies.
The Administrative Court’s October 2025 ruling on the lawsuit filed by three activists
against the Royal Thai Army and its affiliates—seeking a court order to end the operations—
was a setback for democracy, as the court dismissed the case. It also shows how difficult
it is for citizens to obtain justice for state wrongdoing.
However, there are some positive developments. The National Human Rights Commission
(NHRC) investigation and the Administrative Court’s October 2025 ruling, which confirmed
the authenticity of documents on IO operations, are important steps forward, as the military
had never previously acknowleged the existence of such operations. Still, this does not
mean that these operations will cease. Instead, the leaked documents highlight the need
to push for the criminalization of such actions, and underline the importance of digital
security and digital literacy for dissidents in Thailand.
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