Instead of threatening to use harsh legal measures against social media users, the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) should be creating a more relaxed atmosphere ahead of the country's return to democracy, an academic has said.
Pijitra Tsukamoto, head of journalism at Chulalongkorn University, said journalists appeared more comfortable questioning the government than three years ago, but if the government vows to use strict measures to curtail debate, a climate of fear will result. This is the opposite of what is needed in the lead-up to an election.
"When saying we are going to have an election, the climate should be more relaxed," she said.
Authorities have recently pledged to deal harshly with those who engage in smear campaigns or distort the truth to sow sedition through social media.
NCPO spokesman Piyapong Klinpan said on Friday it has been found over the past couple of weeks that some people had been making slanderous comments either through social media or news outlets.
Ms Pijitra said the people had already calmed down as they realised that conflict of any kind, even online, was only likely to encourage the military to retain its grip on power.
Moreover, social media users nowadays are already careful, and fake news is a problem of every society, not just Thailand.
She said it was also unreasonable for the NCPO to crack down on free debate in such a way.
Under a democratic regime, people can question the government when they take measures against people's freedom, while under the NCPO, which sees it has the power in hand, the people's questions are often ignored, she added.
Meanwhile, Thienchai Na Nakorn, a legal expert at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University and member of the Constitution Drafting Committee, said if the NCPO takes action against someone for spreading false information, it must also clarify what is true.
"The government has to control [social media] if it's necessary, but it must be reasonable," he said.
"If it's the case that the content is against the government, the government must be open-minded [and let it be]. But in cases of false information, it can have an impact on national security," he said.
He said that as, so far, the government had not taken action against all those who had criticised it on social media, it must have considered the situation.
"The government must have some grounds before taking any action ... otherwise it will have to face a massive backlash," Mr Thienchai said.