initiative. The announcement took place on 11 November 2025 at the German Embassy in Bangkok, marking a joint commitment to strengthen Thailand’s resilience against false and misleading information especially in the lead-up to the 2026 general election.
Germany Supports Media Resilience, Emphasizing that “Fact-Checking is the Heart of Democracy”
Shweta Matri Kannan, First Secretary for Culture and Information at the German Embassy in Thailand
Ms. Shweta Matri Kannan, First Secretary for Culture and Information at the German Embassy in Thailand, highlighted Germany’s concern over the global spread of disinformation and praised Thailand’s growing efforts to build information resilience through this collaboration.
“False and misleading information has become a rapidly spreading challenge worldwide over the past few years. Germany is deeply concerned about this phenomenon. We have witnessed the impact of disinformation on Thailand, yet we also see strong foundations built by Thai PBS, CoFact, and Thammasat University in developing fact-checking networks that can detect fake news and bring society back to the truth. This project is truly significant, and Germany is fully committed to supporting it” said Ms. Kannan.
She added that the project will expand support from media organizations and civil society toward public education.
“Curbing the spread of fake news starts with individuals questioning and verifying information before sharing it. That is the key to building a democratic society resilient to disinformation” she emphasized.
Thammasat Develops a “Political Fact-Checking Curriculum” to Strengthen Media Literacy in Disinformation Era
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wilaiwan Jongwilaikasaem, Lecturer at the Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication, Thammasat University,
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wilaiwan Jongwilaikasaem, Lecturer at the Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication, Thammasat University, and Project Director, stated that this collaboration represents “a crucial step for the Thai media and academic community” in building a transparent information ecosystem before the 2026 election.
Thammasat University will lead in designing and implementing the Fact-Check Thailand 2026 curriculum, which trains journalists, students, and civil society representatives in verifying political party policies, identifying misinformation and hybrid content on social media including text, images, and AI-generated videos and analyzing visual framing that could distort public perception.
“Creating a media-literate society begins with practical, hands-on learning. This training will empower the next generation of journalists to report on elections accurately, ethically, and with transparency” said Dr. Wilaiwan.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wilaiwan Jongwilaikasaem concluded that this collaboration between Thailand and the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany is not just a short-term workshop but the beginning of building a strong and transparent information ecosystem for Thai society especially in the run-up to the 2026 general election, when information will play a decisive role in shaping public opinion.
Thai PBS elevates “Thai PBS Verify” to become the central hub for election fact-checking.
Kanokporn Prasitpol, Director of the Digital Media Department at Thai PBS
As the public service media organization leading the production and dissemination of activities under this project, Kanokporn Prasitpol, Director of the Digital Media Department at Thai PBS, stated that fact-checking has always been one of the core duties of journalists and media professionals. However, in an era where disinformation spreads rapidly, Thai PBS has elevated Thai PBS Verify into a dedicated fact-checking brand, while expanding collaborations with both domestic and international networks to strengthen media literacy in society especially in the lead-up to the national election, when false information intensifies and can influence public decision-making.
“As a public service broadcaster, Thai PBS is expanding its role beyond election reporting to systematic fact-checking, working together with citizen journalists and civil society networks to ensure that people receive accurate information before casting their vote” Kanokporn said.
She added that this collaboration began with domestic networks and has grown to attract international interest. The German Embassy recognized the potential of Thai PBS Verify through the Thai PBS Verify Youth Camp 2025, which empowered young people to become more media-literate. This has now evolved into a partnership among four organizations. As a public service broadcaster, Thai PBS will broaden its role from reporting election results to conducting fact-checks in collaboration with citizen journalists and wider networks, while also strengthening fact-checking skills ahead of the election.
CoFact Strengthens Citizen Engagement Through Collaborative Fact-Checking
Dr. Pimrapat Dusadeeisariyakul, Advisor to CoFact Thailand
Dr. Pimrapat Dusadeeisariyakul, Advisor to CoFact Thailand, emphasized that this collaboration represents an important opportunity to unite Thailand’s fact-checking organizations and enhance systematic and participatory verification processes.
“CoFact will deploy its citizen-driven fact-checking platform to empower everyone to play an active role in combating disinformation. We believe truth can prevail only when society collectively contributes to a transparent information ecosystem” said Dr. Pimrapat.
The Fact-Check Thailand 2026 project will host a 4-day, 3-night workshop from 19–22 November 2025 at Thai PBS, followed by the “Talk for Truth” event and Fact-Check Thailand Award 2026 Ceremony on 18 December 2025.
The collaboration defines clear partner roles:
- German Embassy in Thailand: Strategic partner for media freedom and democracy.
- Thammasat University: Curriculum design and academic leadership.
- Thai PBS: Lead media partner through Thai PBS Verify and Policy Watch teams, serving as trainers and mentors.
- CoFact Thailand: Platform and technology development for participatory fact-checking.
For more information, visit www.thaipbs.or.th/FactCheckThailand2026
