Lead Stories Thai - International

Fact Check: Israelis Did NOT Take Over Pai District In Thailand's Mae Hong Son Province

2025-03-19T21:16:09Z

Did more than 30,000 Israelis settle in the district of Pai in Thailand's Mae Hong Son Province? No, that's not true: Government officials confirmed Israelis in the district are just tourists visiting.

The claim appeared in a video posted on TikTok on February 18, 2025, no longer available on the platform but archived here, which had the following caption (translated from Thai into English by Lead Stories staff):

What are they doing in Pai? Is this true or not?

This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:

(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Thu Feb 20 14:16:09 2025 UTC)

The video features screenshots of news headlines, including some that read: "Thai Pai residents suffer. 30,000 Israelis permanently live here" and "Taking over Pai. Jews invade Thailand."

The narrator opened the video by saying he heard that there are more than 30,000 Israelis in Pai, with about 3,000 permanently living there and the rest going in and out of the country - more than the 21,000 local Pai residents. The post also says the Israelis came amid a ceasefire with Hamas and that there is now infrastructure supporting them as residents, such as a synagogue and haircut spots reserved only for Jewish people.

Authorities have refuted the claim: Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said at a news conference (archived here) on February 18, 2025, that the government looked into it and verified that the claim was not true. She added that the Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul would visit the district in person the following week for inspections.

Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, along with Orna Sagiv, the Israeli ambassador to Thailand, inspected the district on February 26, 2025, according to the Government Public Relations Department (archived here). The deputy prime minister said he was personally briefed by the governor, who confirmed that many claims about the Israelis' presence there were exaggerated, noting there hadn't been any indication of a security threat to local Thai residents or any indication that they would stay in the district permanently.

Chatchai Bangchuad, secretary-general of the National Security Council, told The Standard on February 19, 2025, (archived here), that there are about 3,000-4,000 Israeli tourists in the district each month, but it is a normal situation that poses no threat.

Mae Hong Son Governor Ekwit Meepian said on National Broadcasting Services of Thailand on February 18, 2025 (archived here), that the 30,000 figure, claimed in the TikTok, is the total number of tourists that have been to the Pai district in 2024, noting that not all of them were Israelis.

Mae Hong Son Public Relations Office wrote in a Facebook post on January 22, 2025 (archived here), that there were 221,776 foreign tourists in Mae Hong Son, the province where Pai is located, in 2024, with 31,735 of them being from Israel, the second largest presence after 39,390 tourists from the United Kingdom.

On top of that, Mae Hong Son Tourist Police said on its Facebook page on February 18, 2025 (archived here), the Chabad House in the district (archived here), a physical space that serves the Jewish community and welcomes Israeli tourists as well, is only used as a place for worship on Fridays and Saturdays, and has a capacity of about 200 people. In the same post, the local tourist police also said there hasn't been any action taken by these individuals that would indicate their intention to settle in the area long-term.

Additionally, one of the pictures shown in the TikTok video (see screenshot below) implying to show a recent gathering of Israelis in Thailand is an old picture that was taken and published by Mae Hon Son Immigration on October 2, 2024, at an event celebrating the Jewish New Year (archived here).

(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Thu Feb 20 14:18:23 2025 UTC)

An anti-Israelis sentiment in the area likely stemmed from an incident in February 2025, in which four Israelis were deported and blacklisted after causing a disturbance at Pai Hospital on February 6, 2025, according to the Thai Immigration Bureau (archived here). The agency said the four individuals attempted trespassing into the hospital's restricted area. They were fined 3,000 Baht each and barred from future entry for "colluding to cause trouble to others, such as bullying, intimidation, threatening, or acting in a way that causes humiliation."

"It's a part of what happens when there are a lot of tourists, there can be some behavior that may not be appropriate," Governor Ekwit Meepian said, "but we must strictly enforce the law."

The Embassy of Israel in Thailand released a statement on its Facebook page on February 27, 2025 (archived here). The ambassador reaffirmed the country's "ongoing efforts to provide guidance to Israeli travelers regarding Thai customs, traditions, and legal regulations." Ambassador Orna Sagiv wrote (archived here): "Thailand and Israel share a strong bond, and I deeply appreciate the warm hospitality extended to the Israeli travelers. We are dedicated to building mutual understanding and strengthening respectful connections between our communities."

Fact Check: The US Has NOT Deported 619 Thai Citizens Since President Trump Took Office

2025-02-13T15:36:49Z

Did the United States deport 619 Thai citizens since President Donald Trump took office? No, that's not true: The figure refers to individuals waiting for final removal orders in November 2024, before Trump was sworn in as U.S. President for his second term on January 20, 2025. The number of removals since Trump took office hasn't been released.

The claim appeared in a video posted on TikTok on February 1, 2025 (archived here), which had the following on-screen caption, reading (translated from Thai into English by Lead Stories staff):

Oh!! Thai people have been deported!!

This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:

(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Wed Feb 13 13:36:27 2025 UTC)

The video features a screenshot of a document with a headline saying that Trump has ordered the deportation of 619 Thai citizens, for a total figure of more than a million people deported across all countries of origin. Other parts of the document are blurred, except the line that says Thailand and 619.

Lead Stories contacted the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on February 6, 2025, for confirmation and the current figures. At the time of writing, the agency hadn't responded.

Lead Stories also reached out to the Royal Thai Embassy in Washington, D.C., on February 6, 2025, inquiring whether it has been in communication with the U.S. government regarding the deportation of Thai citizens.

The embassy hadn't responded to the inquiry at the time of writing. However, the Thai embassy's consular department posted on its Facebook page (archived here) shortly after Lead Stories' inquiry that "the data was not true."

"Because in the past, the Royal Thai Embassy and Consulate General have never been contacted by the relevant agencies of the United States to request the issuance of travel documents for Thai nationals to travel back to Thailand," adds the post.

(Source: Facebook screenshot taken on Wed Feb 13 15:14:50 2025 UTC)

The number 619 refers to Thai citizens who were among more than 1,445,549 foreign nationals that were on ICE's non-detained docket with final orders of removal as of November 24, 2024. The document was exclusively obtained by Fox News (archived here), and was posted to its website on December 11, 2024 (archived here).

The document doesn't show how many people have been deported. Since the document referred to November 2024, it was still under former President Joe Biden's administration, not Trump's.

ICE and related agencies haven't released a specific number of Thai citizens removed since Trump took office. According to ICE's statistics (archived here), between October 2020 and September 2024, 95 Thai nationals were arrested, 97 detained, and 65 removed.

Fact Check: People From Myanmar DO Need To Take Tests To Obtain A Thai Driving License

2025-01-10T10:44:17Z

Do people from Myanmar not need to take any test in order to get a driving license in Thailand? No, that's not true: Tests are still required for non-citizens, as are for Thai citizens. There are exemptions, however, according to officials.

The claim appeared in a video posted on TikTok on October 23, 2024 (archived here), which had the following on-screen caption, in part saying (translated from Thai into English by Lead Stories staff):

Thai people have to spend time studying and taking exams before they can get their license. Some people have taken the test ten times and still can't get it. But for Burmese, there is no need to take the difficult test. It's easy.

This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:

(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Thu Jan 2 12:44:18 2025 UTC)

The 10-second video only features the above texts with a Thai flag, asking viewers to reflect on those statements. The texts went on to say that people from Myanmar have more rights than Thai citizens in every regard.

According to the Thai Department of Land Transport (archived here), to obtain a new, two-year driving license in Thailand, non-citizens are required to take a five-hour training course before completing a physical examination, a written theory exam and a driving exam -- a requirement Thai citizens are also subject to.

However, foreigners can request an exemption from the theory and driving exams if they present a valid international driving license or a local driving license from their home country translated into English or Thai, certified by their embassy.

With that, a non-citizen only needs to take a one-hour training course before taking the physical examination.

On the claim that people from Myanmar have more rights than Thai citizens, the video also claimed that it's easier for Myanmar citizens to open a business in Thailand while Thai citizens have to go through a long process, instead.

Both claims are not true. The 1999 Foreign Business Act (archived here) in Thailand restricts foreign ownership in certain Thai industries, essentially defining which businesses can be operated by foreigners in Thailand and requiring them to obtain a specific license if they wish to engage in restricted sectors.

To operate a business in a restricted category, a foreign entity must obtain a "Foreign Business License" from the Department of Business Development, a process a Thai company doesn't have to endure.

Fact Check: Russian President Putin Was NOT Ordained As A Buddhist Monk To Honour Thai King Rama IX

2024-12-06T08:27:06Z

Was Russian President Vladimir Putin ordained as a Buddhist monk "to pay respect to Rama IX," the late Thai King? No, that's not true. An image shared in a clip circulating on TikTok, portraying Putin in a yellow monk robe, has been generated using AI, as confirmed to Lead Stories by his creator.

The claim appeared in a video published on TikTok on October 13, 2024 (archived here), allegedly showing President Putin ordained as a Buddhist monk. It opened with an image of a Buddhist monk who looks like the president of Russia, accompanied by a text in Thai that reads, translated into English by Lead Stories staff:

Putin was ordained as a Buddhist monk to pay respects to King Rama IX.

It then continues with several old clips of King Rama IX performing royal duties. Several hashtags in Thai are used, among which, translated into English, #With deep respect and remembrance of the royal grace, #King Rama IX.

This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:

(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Mon Dec 2 08:27:06 2024 UTC)

Lead Stories ran the image through Sightengine, an AI image detection tool. The tool indicated a 77 percent likelihood that the image had been AI-generated, as shown below.

(Source: Sightengine screenshot taken on Sat Nov 3014:00:00 2024 UTC)

According to the government-run Thai News Agency (archived here), the origin of the image can be traced to a Facebook page called 'AI Creatives Thailand' (archived here), where it was first published on March 19, 2023, by a Thai account, with the name of Tongsuke Suwannakij, as transliterated into English by Lead Stories.

Lead Stories reached out to the account owner on November 28, 2024, via the Messenger app, and Tongsuke Suwannakij replied, explaining that he had created the image using Midjourney, a program to create AI images. He had generated several pictures of Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden, in Buddhist monk robes, sitting in a hall with other monks meditating or praying, including the one shared in the TikTok video, he added. He had named his AI art collection "When the two leaders withdrew to be ordained as Buddhist monks," as translated by Lead Stories staff.

Tongsuke has now deleted this collection of images from the Facebook page. Tongsuke told Lead Stories, also via Messenger, that the photos on 'AI Creatives Thailand' had been hidden by Facebook because they had been widely reposted on Thai social media and interpreted as real, leading to misunderstanding. He then removed the whole collection from the 'AI Creatives Thailand' page. "Posting it this way has gone too far," Tongsuke told Lead Stories regarding the image shown in the TikTok video.

Fact Check: Thailand Is NOT Granting Citizenship To Migrants From Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam

2024-11-14T08:19:11Z

Did Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra's cabinet approve a proposal to grant citizenship to people from Myanmar, Cambodia, and Vietnam? No, that's not true: It's a different target group. The target for a new measure is minority ethnic groups and stateless people.

The claim appeared in a video posted on TikTok on October 30, 2024 (archived here), and had the following caption (translated from Thai into English by Lead Stories staff):

Save: Granting citizenship to aliens is a national security risk for Thailand. #PleaseLike

This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:

(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Thu Oct 31 12:19:11 2024 UTC)

The post also has an on-screen caption, as translated, stating, "Latest news, the cabinet has approved granting Thai citizenship to 483,000 aliens, encouraging the Interior Ministry to get it done in 60 days."

The video sarcastically said Thailand is very kind in giving out its citizenship. The narrator pointed to Choi Young-seok, known as "Coach Choi," the head coach of the Thailand Taekwondo National who got his Thai citizenship on October 3, 2024, according to the Royal Gazette (archived here), despite being here for years.

The narrator said that aliens from Myanmar, Vietnam, and Cambodia will get citizenship within 60 days, noting that Thailand will be like the United States one day.

The claim stemmed from a decision from the cabinet meeting on October 29, 2024, which was to streamline the citizenship process for 483,626 migrants from 19 targeted ethnic minority groups who have been in Thailand for a long time, according to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra's press conference after the meeting (archived here). She said the standard process would take 270 days, but that will be changed to five days.

That doesn't mean anyone from Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, or any country would get Thai citizenship within five days.

The new measure is explicitly for the 483,626 people who already have their citizenship consideration pending, according to the cabinet's meeting consensus from October 29, 2024. (archived here). These are people of ethnic minority groups who have been in the country for a long time and their children. It noted that the Office of the National Security Council has already endorsed the measure.

According to the eligibility criteria (archived here), the person must have been living in Thailand continuously for 15 years, must have migrated to the country before 1999, must have a 13-digit identification number, and must not have citizenship with any other country.

Government Spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub said at an October 29, 2024, press conference (archived here) that the cabinet has sent the measure to the Ministry of Interior for execution within 30 days, and it will be in effect 60 days after the official announcement.

Fact Check: Thailand Did NOT Pass New Law To Grant Birthright Citizenship For Migrants' Children

2024-10-09T11:40:12Z

Did Thailand pass a new law to grant birthright citizenship to children of migrants from Myanmar born in Thailand? No, that's not true: The country withdrew its reservation to an article of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Officials said this move would enhance protections for young non-citizens.

The claim appeared in a video posted on TikTok on August 8, 2024 (archived here).

The video had the following caption (translated from Thai into English by Lead Stories staff):

#Green Screen #Alien Labor Getting Thai Citizenship #Same Benefits As Thai People #Aliens #Burmese Labor #Ministry of Social Development and Human Security #Varawut Silpa-archa #Thailand #Political News

This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:

(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Thu Sep 12 11:40:12 2024 UTC)

The video features a man addressing Varawut Silpa-archa (archived here), the Minister of Social Development and Human Security, against the backdrop of an official announcement (archived here) from the Department of Children and Youth. The announcement, as translated, read: "Thailand withdraws its reservation on Article 22 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, enhancing children's protections."

In the video, the man claims that if a laborer from Myanmar gives birth in Thailand, the child will receive Thai citizenship with the same legal status and benefits as Thai citizens. He questions why the Thai government would prioritize non-citizens over citizens and asks viewers if they agree with "the new law."

The legal changes referenced in the video pertain to Thailand's withdrawal of its reservation about Article 22 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. According to a Department of Children and Youth's announcement from August 31, 2024 (archived here), this withdrawal is not a new law but a decision made by the cabinet on July 9, 2024, following a proposal by the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child (archived here) was signed by 140 countries on November 20, 1989, according to the UN (archived here). Thailand ratified the Convention on March 27, 1992, according to the UN (archived here).

Article 22 of the Convention states:

1. States Parties shall take appropriate measures to ensure that a child who is seeking refugee status or who is considered a refugee in accordance with applicable international or domestic law and procedures shall, whether unaccompanied or accompanied by his or her parents or by any other person, receive appropriate protection and humanitarian assistance in the enjoyment of applicable rights set forth in the present Convention and in other international human rights or humanitarian instruments to which the said States are Parties.

2. For this purpose, States Parties shall provide, as they consider appropriate, co-operation in any efforts by the United Nations and other competent intergovernmental organizations or non-governmental organizations co-operating with the United Nations to protect and assist such a child and to trace the parents or other members of the family of any refugee child in order to obtain information necessary for reunification with his or her family. In cases where no parents or other members of the family can be found, the child shall be accorded the same protection as any other child permanently or temporarily deprived of his or her family environment for any reason, as set forth in the present Convention.

Neither the Convention nor the Department of Children and Youth's announcement mentioned granting citizenship to the children of laborers. Minister Silpa-archa addressed this in his TikTok post on August 9, 2024 (archived here), clarifying that the decision has been completely misunderstood.

Silpa-archa explained that Article 22 focuses on protecting children so they can develop physically and mentally. He noted that Thailand was the last country among the Convention's parties to withdraw its reservation to the Article. The Royal Thai Government corroborated this in a separate news release featuring Silpa-archa on September 9, 2024 (archived here).

"On the other hand, if there's a Thai person or a Thai child in hardship in foreign countries ... those countries must take care of the Thai kid just like their own kids, but not granting their citizenship," the minister added in the video, as translated.

Thailand's Nationality Act of 1965, amended in 2008, (archived here) specifies that a person born in Thailand does not receive citizenship if their parents entered and resided in the country illegally, were granted a temporary stay, or received leniency for temporary residence as a specific case.

On the reservation withdrawal, the UN Human Rights Office for South-East Asia released a statement on September 6, 2024 (archived here), welcoming the decision and stating that it will "greatly enhance the protection of the human rights of refugee and asylum-seeking children in Thailand."

Fact Check: The MFP Party Did NOT Appeal Its Dissolution Case With The International Court Of Justice

2024-08-21T14:35:25Z

Did the now-shuttered Move Forward Party appeal the Thai court's ruling to dissolve it with the International Court of Justice? No, that's not true: The court doesn't have jurisdiction over Thailand's judiciary system and has no power to overturn its ruling. Former party members formed a new party called The People's Party.

The claim appeared in a video posted on TikTok on August 14, 2024, which is no longer available on the platform but is archived here, and had the following caption (translated from Thai into English by Lead Stories staff):

Waiting for the appeal of the World Court⚖️#Move Forward #Court of Appeal #World Court #People's Party #Tim Pita #PitaLimjaroenrat #TengNattaphong #SirikanyaTansakul #BreakingNews #HotTrend

This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:

(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Wed Aug 21 14:35:25 2024 UTC)

The video also features a headline that says, as translated: "Move Forward Party cheers!! The International Court of Justice has taken up the matter of dissolving the Move Forward Party for consideration in the Court of Appeals with a high chance of victory" and a text that says "Victory! Court agrees to hear the appeal."

The claim followed the dissolution of the MFP, a party seen as progressive and reformist, by an order from the Thai Constitutional Court issued on August 7, 2024. The court ruled (archived here) that its push to amend the lèse-majesté laws during its campaigning mounted an attempt to overthrow the monarchy. The party finished first during the 2023 general election (archived here).

The claim is false, however. The International Court of Justice only settles legal disputes between two countries and gives opinions on legal questions referred to it by specialized agencies and the United Nations, according to its website (archived here). It doesn't settle disputes within one country.

Only states - not individuals, non-governmental organizations, corporations, or any other private entity- can submit cases to the court. All member states of the UN, including Thailand, are eligible. This means the court has no jurisdiction to deal with Thailand's judiciary matters.

As of August 21, 2024, at the time of writing, such a case wasn't listed on the International Court of Justice's pending cases page on its website (archived here).

Additionally, former Move Forward Party members of Parliament have formed a new party called "The People's Party." Former Move Forward Party Leader Pita Limjaroenrat also announced on his Medium page (archived here) that he will take on the role of Visiting Democracy Fellow at Harvard University beginning in the fall 2024 semester.

"As my political tenure has come to a close, I am fully committed to using this opportunity to reflect on the experiences and challenges I encountered during my time in office," wrote Limjaroenrat, who faced a 10-year political ban order from the Thai court.

Fact Check: The Paris 2024 Olympic Games Did NOT Provide Anti-Sex Beds For Athletes

2024-08-06T06:45:11Z

Did the 2024 Paris Olympic Games provide anti-sex beds for athletes? No, that's not true: The cardboard beds used at the Paris Games are intended to be environmentally sustainable and recyclable, to cut CO2 emissions. They are not meant to prevent sex. A similar claim circulated also in 2021, at the Tokyo Olympics, and at that time a post on the Olympic Games X account thanked athletes for debunking the myth themselves.

The claim appeared in a video (archived here) published on TikTok on June 13, 2024. The caption, translated from Thai to English by Lead Stories staff, read:

Paris olympics provided anti-sex bed for athletes.

This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:

(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Fri Aug 2 06:45:11 2024 UTC)

The Paris Olympic Games have been talked about all over social media. The claim circulating on TikTok alleges that the beds provided to athletes are "anti-sex" because they are made from cardboard, supposedly for single-person use, and not sturdy. The eco-friendly beds, though, have been chosen for environmental purposes (archived here) and are not intended to prevent sex.

According to the Paris Olympic Games' objectives, (achieved here) the aim is to have more sustainable Games and protect the environment. The organizers have laid out a cutting-edge plan to halve the Games-related carbon footprint compared to previous events, using innovative solutions for energy, food, venues, transport, and digital services. The idea of cardboard beds comes from a Japanese company called Airweave, (archived here), a supporter of the 2024 Games and the official bed supplier for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games athletes. The concept of the cardboard bed is that it is fully reusable and recyclable. They were also used in the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021 (archived here), where similar claims of "anti-sex" accommodation for the athletes circulated (archived here). At the time, the allegations were addressed by the organizers of the Games on X, formerly Twitter, with a funny post on the Olympic Games account (archived here), which thanked the athletes for "debunking the myth."

To prove that this bed is strong enough and suitable for athletes, in 2021, Motokuni Takaoka, the CEO of Airweave,(archived here) jumped on one of the beds and emphasized that it can support several people. Additionally, the head of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, (archived here), tested one of the beds during a visit to the athletes' village in 2023. Moreover, due to the resurfacing of the claim on social media, Rhys McClenaghan, an athlete from Ireland (archived here), also refuted it again, with a video of him posted on X on July 20, 2024, (archived here) jumping on the bed to demonstrate its strength.

Another indication that the Paris Olympic Games are not trying to prevent athletes from having sex is that they are providing 300,000 condoms (archived here) in the Olympic Village for athletes to use.

Fact Check: Airborne Pollutants In Chiang Mai Were NOT 20 Times Higher Than The WHO Standard In March 2024

2024-05-07T22:36:52Z

Did PM2.5 - fine particulates that are usually a key indicator of air quality - in Chiang Mai exceed the WHO standard by 20 times in March 2024? No, that's not true: According to the Climate change data center of Chiang Mai University, PM2.5 levels exceeded the WHO standards by 9.8 times on March 9, 2024, when the claim started circulating on social media.

The claim appeared in a video (archived here) published on TikTok on March 19, 2024. The caption (translated from Thai to English by Lead Stories staff) read:

International media criticized Thailand for air pollution in Chiang Mai

This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:

(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Mon Apr 1 18:26:00 2024 UTC)

The claim originated from an international publication (archived here). An article published in The Diplomat dated March 22, 2024, reported that "Thailand's PM Misses the Forest for the Trees on the Country's Pollution Problem," accusing the Thai Prime Minister of not grasping the gravity of the situation as a whole, and also claimed Chiang Mai's pollution levels were higher than the WHO standard by 20 times.

There are high pollution levels in Chiang Mai, but according to WHO guidelines (archived here), the average exposure to PM 2.5 fine inhalable particles (PM stands for particulate matter and 2.5 refers to size) over a 24-hour period should not exceed 15 µg/m3 for more than 3-4 days per year (archived here). The pollution control department of the Ministry of Natural Resources (archived here) measures air pollution in Chiang Mai in real-time. On March 9, 2024, the average PM2.5 levels reached approximately a 147.7 AQI (air quality index) score, which is about 9.8 times higher than the WHO standard, over a 24-hour period.

Chiang Mai (archived here) is the largest city in northern Thailand and the third largest city in the nation after metropolitan Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima. Many beautiful places in the area attract tourists from all over the world, including Thai people, who come to visit the natural beauty. In March 2024, Chiang Mai was facing a pollution issue related to PM 2.5, and the number of people (archived here) who had gotten sick due to airborne pollutants was significantly increasing. Actually, PM 2.5 in Chiang Mai is caused by several factors (archived here), for example, wildfires that occur during certain seasons and agricultural burning.

The Anti Fake News Thailand website (archived here) checked the information with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, who investigated the claim, and they confirmed that it is not true that PM2.5 in Thailand's Chiang Mai was 20 times higher than the WHO standard, calling it disinformation.

Fact Check: NO Proof Mixture Of Lime, Ginger, Honey And Kombucha Can Clean Blood Vessels

2024-03-29T15:52:03Z

Does consuming a mixed drink of lime, ginger, honey, and kombucha effectively cleanse blood vessels and potentially address various diseases? No, that's not true: according to the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicines, this assertion originates from the belief that lime and kombucha can cleanse fat and cholesterol from blood vessels, which are factors contributing to high cholesterol, stroke, and numbness in fingertips. However, no evidence in scientific studies supports the claim that consuming such a concoction can effectively treat these symptoms and diseases.

The claim appeared in a video (archived here) published on TikTok by Kumviang Shop under the caption, translated from Thai into English by Lead Stories staff: "A remedy for breaking through blood vessels." The video included the following comment:

It works. I've already finished 4 bottles and my cholesterol reduced significantly.

This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:

(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Fri Mar 29 15:52:03 2024 UTC)

Kumviang Shop, which promotes Kumviang Natural Farming, operates a TikTok channel that sells kombucha. The channel shares videos detailing the drink recipe, comprising three fresh limes, 100 grams of fresh ginger, 100cc of honey, and 750cc of kombucha. The videos also assert various treatment benefits, such as lowering high blood pressure and cholesterol levels and aiding in stroke recovery.

The video attempts to persuade viewers that the featured drink recipe outperforms modern medications for individuals managing high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, or the posthumous of a stroke. It suggests that individuals relying on modern medications often find that they are not cured, but instead, they need to increase their doses over time.

The Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicines (archived here), established under the Ministry of Public Health in 2002, informed Lead Stories via telephone on March 25, 2024, that no research or scientific evidence supports the claim that this drink can cleanse blood vessels or alleviate symptoms.

A senior officer at the department stated:

When people mention cleaning blood vessels, they usually mean to rinse off the surplus cholesterols or LDL (low-density lipoprotein). So far, there is some research on guinea pigs about kombucha's benefits. The research showed that it could reduce LDL and sugar levels in guinea pigs. However, the results in guinea pigs might not be the same in humans, so we should not expect the same benefits from this research.

The senior officer stressed that individuals with high blood pressure or strokes should follow their doctor's guidance rather than discontinuing medications independently and transitioning to consuming this kombucha recipe.

The expert added that it is never advisable to stop cholesterol medication if you are susceptible to these conditions without consulting a medical professional.

Fact Check: Itcha XS Is NOT Weight Loss Pill

2024-03-29T13:58:03Z

Is a dietary supplement called Itcha XS a weight loss pill, as extensively advertised on social media? No, that's not true. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Thailand says the pill is not registered as weight loss medication and advertising it as having weight loss effects violates FDA regulation. The regulatory agency is preparing to issue consumer warnings regarding this product and legal actions may be taken against the supplement distributor to remove misleading advertisements from commercial channels.

The claim appeared in a video (archived here) on TikTok on March 21, 2024, by @ itcha2024, an account affiliated with the product's distributor. The caption (translated from Thai to English by Lead Stories staff) read:

Let's hear the answer. What has (the presenter) done (to her body)?

A woman is heard saying (as translated):

Many people ask whether Benz (the name of the presenter) has undergone gastric surgery or liposuction, but I haven't done anything at all. I've been taking Itcha since October (2023). I just take Itcha and also watch my diet. Some may feel it's impossible to lose weight but I want you to open your heart and give it a try because many people are afraid. Take Itcha one pill a day and your body will definitely change.

This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:

(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Wed Mar 27 09:12:03 2024 UTC)

The product is registered with Thailand's FDA as a dietary supplement product (archived here). According to the regulations of the FDA (archived here), advertising dietary supplements as products that can reduce weight or change body shape is forbidden.

Lead Stories reached out by phone to the FDA Thai's Complaint and Enforcement Management Center (archived here) on March 27, 2024. An FDA representative acknowledged that there have been many complaints about the product, saying (as translated):

Since the product is registered with the FDA as a dietary supplement, and it has not been reported to the office as having any properties that contribute to weight loss, it is considered a violation of FDA regulations for advertising with such a message.

Adding:

The bureau is currently addressing misleading advertising by the product. Warnings Thai consumers against the product and also legal issue against the distributing company will be soon launched.

Fact Check: Cambodia Is NOT Preparing Military In Borderland Dispute With Thailand

2024-03-27T14:21:25Z

Is Cambodia reinforcing its military near Thailand's border following tension around a disputed island called Koh Kood? No, that's not true: There is no substantive evidence supporting this claim. Videos circulating on TikTok claiming to show military activity in the area appear to be old footage of past military exercises and military parade preparation.

A video on TikTok posted by @noknakav2 on January 30, 2024 (archived here), had the caption (translated from Thai to English by Lead Stories staff):

Cambodia is ready, collecting new modern weapons from China. Soon to Koh Kood. Hoping Thailand won't surrender like Prasat Preah Vihear

This is what the first post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:

(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Tue Mar 26 12:14:25 2024 UTC)

In the video, a narrator commented on the area between Cambodia and Thailand known as the Thailand-Cambodia Overlapping Claims Area (OCA). It featured video footage of Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin speaking at a Parliament meeting on January 3, 2024, about ongoing talks regarding the OCA with Cambodia. The video was part of a Thai Public Broadcast Service's program called "Keep Up With The World," which aired on January 25, 2024 (archived here). Prasat Preah Vihear refers to Preah Vihear Temple in Cambodia. Thailand and Cambodia have fought over its ownership for more than 100 years.

The second half of the video featured rows of military vehicles, tanks and military personnel. Cambodian flags can be seen throughout the video. An "Asian Military" watermark was embedded in the video. The caption suggests that Cambodia got new weapons from China to prepare for an occupation of the island Koh Kood.

As reported by the Phnom Penh Post (archived here and here), Cambodia and China have a strong military partnership, but there is no reported evidence that Cambodia is preparing and staging new weapons in the area to attack Thailand. Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Manet's speech on January 24, 2024 (archived here), to mark the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces only referred to the need to strengthen the army to maintain peace within the country and the region and respond to threats from terrorism. He did not mention Thailand in his remarks.

According to the Khmer Times report (archived here), the prime minister stated that "Cambodia has no ambition to invade anyone." Furthermore, there is no news of a possible military escalation with Thailand in the Cambodian press, and no comments from international security missions and observers including the United Nations, which would not be the case if a military escalation between the two countries was real.

Thai Defense Minister Sutin Klungsang told local media March 21, 2024 (archived here), before his visit to Cambodia, that he has spoken, both officially and unofficially, with Cambodian officials, and the topic of Koh Kood never came up. He said the island is 100 percent Thai-owned.

Lead Stories contacted the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Royal Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh with questions about this claim. This fact check will be updated, if appropriate, if the agencies respond.

Lead Stories wasn't able to determine the origin of video featured in the second half of the post showing military vehicles and personnel. Reverse image searches resulted in similar videos, but no exact match. However, from looking at angles, locations and clues in the background from different pictures and videos here, here and here (archived here, here and here), it appears to be from a preparation ahead of a military parade to mark the army's 25th anniversary in January 2024.

Fact Check: Study Does NOT Prove Intermittent Fasting Causes Increased Risk Of Cardiovascular Death

2024-03-26T17:53:11Z

Did researchers prove intermittent fasting causes a higher risk of cardiovascular death? No, that's not true: The paper used to back this claim is flawed, lacks evidence and remains unpublished and unreviewed, according to a Thai medical doctor and reporting in several publications. Additionally, there is no published research paper presenting the results, and the data collection method, reliant on respondents' memories, is unreliable.

The claim appeared in a video (archived here) on TikTok by @bowling_ranuka on March 21, 2024. The caption (translated from Thai to English by Lead Stories staff) read:

16/8 intermittent fasting linked to a 91% higher risk of cardiovascular death.

This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:

(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Mon Mar 25 10:12:33 2024 UTC)

Intermittent fasting (IF) (archived here) is a dietary approach characterized by alternating periods of food abstention and consumption on a scheduled basis. It has gained popularity as an effective method for weight loss. However, on March 18, 2024, the American Heart Association (AHA) issued a press release (archived here) revealing new research suggesting that eight-hour time-restricted eating, a form of intermittent fasting, is associated with a 91 percent higher risk of cardiovascular death. The AHA also stated that these research abstracts were preliminary and had not yet been peer-reviewed.

The medical community swiftly disseminated these findings, prompting numerous doctors to discredit them. Dr. Sasapin Wongkovit (archived here), also known as Dr. Nuize, a respected physician in Thailand, shared a video on TikTok (archived here) elucidating why this research remains untrustworthy.

Several articles have also pointed out numerous shortcomings in the research, casting doubt on the reliability of its findings (archived here, here and here). First, the research is observational in nature. It involved distributing questionnaires to 20,000 U.S. adults, men and women with an average age of 49 years, and tracking them over eight to 17 years. However, this method relies on participants' memories, which can be unreliable, especially considering that intermittent fasting practices may vary from day to day for some individuals. Second, the frequency of administering the questionnaire was too infrequent, only twice a year. The study also failed to differentiate between participants with chronic diseases and those without. Additionally, the 20,000 participants did not follow similar diets. The sample size of 20,000 volunteers is relatively small compared to the overall population of the U.S. Consequently, these limitations raise significant concerns about the research's ability to draw conclusive results.

At the same time, there is research (archived here) that proves the benefits of intermittent fasting. This was a 2021 study published by Frontiers in Nutrition. It reviewed via a meta-analysis, a technique used to combine and analyze the results of multiple independent studies, which showed a significant positive correlation between body mass index and weight loss during intermittent fasting.

Fact Check: Collagen Production In Human Body Does NOT Increase With Age

2024-03-26T09:18:51Z

Does collagen production in the human body increase with age? No, that's not true: The body's collagen production slows down with age. According to scientific studies, collagen declines by around 1 percent after reaching age 20, especially in perimenopausal and menopausal women. This results in a decrease in collagen production, accelerated by the estrogen hormone drop.

The claim appeared in a video (archived here) on TikTok by @pukmutnews on March 13, 2024, titled (translated from Thai to English by Lead Stories staff) "Just Realized: 'Collagen' is not Human Food." The caption (as translated) read:

The information spreading that collagen decreases as you age is a lie. It's not true because collagen production naturally increases with age in humans.

This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:

(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Thu Mar 21 01:56:16 2024 UTC)

The person speaking in the video, as stated in the text overlay, is Dr. Wichai Ekataksin, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Lymphology Institute of Thailand in Bangkok. Ekataksin is renowned for his research and expertise in the field of lymphedema (archived here).

In the video, Ekataksin said he observed the quantity of collagen under the microscope and found that it increased and became thicker as people age. He didn't provide any scientific evidence to support his claim.

Our body produces collagen through fibroblast cells, specialized cells with the main function of synthesizing collagen and stroma, a type of tissue consisting mainly of connective tissue, among other elements (archived here). We can enhance collagen production with a high protein and amino acid-based diet, which means eating high-collagen foods from animal sources (archived here).

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body, and it accumulates primarily in the skin (archived here). Both intrinsic and extrinsic factors cause skin aging and the disintegration of physiological functions (archived here). The intrinsic factors are mainly three: atrophy of the dermis, which is the middle layer of skin affected by decreased collagen synthesis, degeneration in the proportion of elastin and dehydration. On the other hand, extrinsic factors are related to environmental causes (archived here, here and here).

According to a Scientific American (archived here) article from September 26, 2005, titled "Why does skin wrinkle with age? What is the best way to slow or prevent this process?" by Suzan Obagi, assistant professor in dermatology at the University of Pittsburgh and director of the Cosmetic Surgery and Skin Health Center, people after age 20 begin to produce less collagen at a rate of around 1 percent per year (archived here).

Hormonal imbalance after menopause causes a significant change in collagen levels, which decrease because of estrogen deficiency in women around 50 years old (archived here). The quantity of type I and II collagen in women's skin will lower by about 30 percent in the first five years of perimenopause and will reduce by 2 percent every year for the next 15 years (archived here). The acceleration of collagen reduction after menopause in women contradicts the claim in the video on TikTok that collagen increases with age (archived here).

Fact Check: Cervical Cancer Is NOT Caused By Tissue

2024-03-24T13:44:13Z

Does tissue (like toilet paper) cause cervical cancer? No, that's not true: There is no substantiated evidence demonstrating a direct link between tissue and cervical cancer. The primary causative factor for cervical cancer is the human papillomavirus (HPV), predominantly transmitted through sexual activities such as vaginal, anal and oral intercourse. Additionally, HPV can spread through skin-to-skin contact from one individual to another.

The claim appeared in a video (archived here) on TikTok by @teacherwara on March 4, 2024. The caption (translated from Thai to English by Lead Stories staff) read:

Using the wrong type of tissue can lead to cancer

This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:

(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Fri Mar 22 09:54:13 2024 UTC)

In the video, a girl claims to have been diagnosed with cervical cancer, which she attributes to the tissue she has been using. Cervical cancer (archived here) is characterized by the growth of cells that originate in the cervix, the lower part of the uterus connected to the vagina. Several factors (archived here) can contribute to cervical cancer, including HPV (in the majority of cases), HIV, other sexually transmitted infections, smoking, the use of contraceptive pills and familial predisposition.

There is no evidence to prove that tissue can cause cervical cancer. A TV program in Thailand called "Sure and Share" (archived here) investigated this claim and consulted with a doctor from the Gynecologic Oncology department at Ramathibodi Hospital. The doctor confirmed that tissues do not cause cervical cancer. She clarified that the virus cannot survive on dry tissue for extended periods, and bacterial infections do not lead to cervical cancer. Moreover, tissue is primarily used on the external female genitalia, thus the likelihood of it reaching the cervix and causing an internal infection is unlikely.

However, while tissue itself cannot cause cervical cancer, it remains crucial to select tissue suitable for genital use. According to doctor recommendations, (archived here) use clean, dry tissue without perfume or chemical substances, as these can irritate the area and potentially lead to bacterial infections.