(Nov 4): Two Thai opposition leaders are demanding the government disclose whether state agencies targeted political leaders with spyware ahead of a December no-confidence debate, days after Apple Inc software flagged attempted attacks on their phones.
Opposition leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut of the People’s Party and Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said at a joint press conference on Wednesday that they’d received mobile security alerts, raising questions over whether the alleged attempted intrusions may be linked to their scrutiny of the government.
Abhisit called on the government to confirm that no security agency or other state body was involved in the incidents, which triggered the phone alerts late in October.
The government has already denied targeting politicians with spyware, and Digital Economy and Society Minister Chaichanok Chidchob on Tuesday said that similar alerts were reported across 99 countries. He said authorities were seeking information from Apple Inc and planned to raise the issue at the National Security Council.
His deputy, Boonthida Somchai, said affected politicians had not yet submitted their alerts directly to the ministry for verification.
Former MP Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, an ex-chair of the House Armed Forces Committee, told Bloomberg that attempts to extract information from another person’s phone could constitute a criminal offence.
He argued that such surveillance would violate Thailand’s Personal Data Protection Act and called for answers from the government, including Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul in his capacity as head of the Internal Security Operations Command, citing past allegations involving the agency. ISOC is the internal security arm of the Thai armed forces.
The lawmakers’ questions come the same week that Germany’s government confirmed that Bundestag members had received Apple alerts about apparent spyware attacks.
Wiroj said preparations for the Dec 7–11 no-confidence debate remain secure but urged an investigation into possible interference in parliamentary scrutiny. He suggested referring the matter to the current chair of the House’s Committee on the Armed Forces, arguing that Apple’s security warnings warranted investigation.
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