Researchers uncover social media harassment campaign targeting Thai dissidents since 2020
Digital forensic researchers have revealed a disturbing social media harassment and doxxing campaign aimed at Thai pro-democracy activists that has been ongoing since at least 2020. This activity has involved state-sponsored efforts to intimidate and silence dissenters through online avenues.
Key Points
- The campaign, named JUICYJAM, utilises fake accounts primarily on X and Facebook to harass pro-democracy activists.
- Thai authorities have doxxed victims, publicly revealing personal information and encouraging followers to report them to the police.
- Attribution of the campaign is linked to the Royal Thai Armed Forces and the Royal Thai Police, supported by leaked military documents.
- Citizen Lab highlights the operation’s scale, describing it as an exceptional state-sponsored influence campaign.
- Amnesty International has called for investigations into these state-sponsored cyberattacks targeting human rights defenders.
- The tactics used in JUICYJAM are comparable to those seen in other regions, such as Hong Kong, focused on suppressing dissent.
- Notably, the campaign may have played a role in the recent arrest of Paul Chambers, an American academic critical of the Thai monarchy.
Why should I read this?
If you care about civil rights and the fight for democracy globally, this article is a must-read. It sheds light on the chilling methods employed by authoritarian regimes to silence dissent, revealing the darker side of social media in the hands of state powers. Understanding these tactics is crucial, especially in light of ongoing global discussions about online freedom and human rights. Dive in to grasp how far-reaching and insidious these campaigns can be!