TikTok Blocks Thai Politicians From Paying for Ads Before Poll

TikTok has announced that it will prohibit Thai election candidates from running paid advertisements or monetizing their content during the campaign period leading up to the February 8 vote. The move aligns with existing rules that already banned political advertising and revenue from politically themed content.

The platform extended the restrictions to all candidates participating in the upcoming election. TikTok said it will work with fact-checking organizations to verify political claims and will remove disinformation and misinformation. The company anticipates a higher volume of misleading posts, including AI-generated content and videos inciting hatred or violence, as the election approaches.

TikTok manager for outreach and partnership, Siriprapa Weerachaising, stated that political content from political parties or content creators, including media, will not be promoted through paid advertising. This includes all forms of election-related content.

Why Did This Happen?

TikTok cited the need to maintain the integrity of the election process. The company expects a surge in politically motivated content as more users express their opinions. This is a proactive measure to mitigate the spread of misinformation and disinformation.

The platform removed 4.4 million videos in the third quarter of last year for violating its community standards. While it did not specify how many of those were political in nature, the move suggests the platform is preparing for an increase in politically themed content.

How Does This Affect the Election?

With about 50 million TikTok users in Thailand—close to the 53 million eligible voters—TikTok is a significant platform for political engagement. The ban on paid advertising and monetization aims to prevent candidates from using the platform to disproportionately influence public opinion.

The restrictions apply to all 57 political parties contesting for 500 seats in the House of Representatives. This includes 100 party-list positions, according to data from the Election Commission.

What Are Analysts Watching Next?

Analysts are closely monitoring how this policy impacts the flow of political information on the platform. The focus is on whether the restrictions will effectively reduce misinformation or if they will limit legitimate political discourse. Siriprapa emphasized that the platform will continue to enforce the rules strictly, regardless of the source of the content.

In a broader context, Thailand faces political uncertainty ahead of the February election. This has influenced economic policy and market stability, with the Bank of Thailand addressing currency volatility and economic growth expectations.

The Bank of Thailand has also considered measures to limit excessive gold trading in the local currency to stabilize the baht. This reflects a broader economic strategy to manage financial risks during the election period.