British tourist arrested in Thailand for giving fake one-star restaurant reviews

A disgruntled British tourist in Thailand finds himself in trouble over an alleged online vendetta. Alexander, 21, was arrested for allegedly posting false negative reviews about a restaurant in Phuket, according to The metro.

The problem began when Alexander, according to reports, tried to use the restaurant as a shortcut to his home, but was refused entry because he was not a customer. Seeking revenge, Alexander is accused of recruiting his friends to flood the restaurant with one-star reviews, causing its rating to drop from a respectable 4.8 to a worrying 3.1 out of 5 stars, according to the means of communication.

The restaurant owner, understandably upset by the sudden influx of negativity and the potential impact on his business, filed a complaint. This led to Alexander’s arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation at his new apartment in Bangkok. The arrest warrant, issued last August, accuses him of a crime with a surprising name: “inserting false computer data likely to cause harm to the general public”.

Alexander maintains his innocence but now faces legal proceedings in Phuket after being transferred to Sakhu Police Station.

This is not an isolated incident. In 2020, an American tourist in Phuket learned the hard way about Thailand’s strict defamation laws. He was arrested over a negative TripAdvisor review accusing a hotel of “modern slavery”. The tourist was eventually released after an apology, but the case serves as a warning to online critics visiting Thailand, where even seemingly harmless comments can have serious consequences.

Defamation is a crime in Thailand and carries a penalty of up to two years in prison.