As Thailand’s general election approaches this Sunday, a series of TikTok videos featuring prime ministerial candidates answering questions about controversial topics has gone viral. The topics raised during the electoral campaign include the legalization of e-cigarettes, local alcohol industry deregulation, sex work decriminalization, and amending the country’s strict royal defamation law.
The royal defamation law, known as Section 112 of the Thai Criminal Code, is a sensitive subject in Thai society, as it stipulates that those who defame, insult, or threaten the king, queen, heir-apparent, or regent may face between three and fifteen years in prison. Increased public interest in Section 112 has led to it becoming a hot topic in political debates in the lead-up to the election.
Sunai Phasuk, a senior researcher on Thailand from Human…
