BMA punishes official for faking photo in footpath complaint

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has disciplined an official who doctored a photo, submitted by a citizen via mobile app, of a motorcycle illegally parked on a footpath. It was altered to make it appear that the vehicle had already been removed.

The citizen sent the photo and a complaint via BMA’s ‘Traffy Fondue’ app, reporting that a motorcycle had been illegally parked on a footpath in Soi Charan Sanitwong 77/1 in Bang Phlat district on July 16.

The disciplined official responded with a digitally altered image, in which the motorcycle appears to have been removed from the scene, implying that the problem had been resolved.

The deception came to light after the Facebook page ‘Footpath Thai Style’ raised doubts over the matter, comparing before-and-after images on its page.

It appears that the motorcycle had been digitally removed, while the rest of the background, including passing cars, remained unchanged.

The post went viral and drew widespread criticism online. The Bang Phlat District Office subsequently launched an investigation.

BMA spokesperson Ekwaranyu said that the Bang Phlat officer confessed to using AI to erase the motorcycle from the image, in an attempt falsely to show that the issue had been resolved.

Orders have now been issued to all districts, strictly prohibiting the use of fake or edited images, or any false data, to classify public complaints as resolved. Any violations will result in disciplinary action.

To prevent such incidents from recurring, the BMA is urgently working with the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), the developer of the ‘Traffy Fondue’ platform, to develop a system for detecting fake images, whether submitted by the public or by officials.

The system will be able to instantly detect and block fake images.

The spokesperson emphasised that the BMA takes the issue seriously and is working to make the platform more transparent, accountable and responsive to public concerns, to restore trust in the city’s digital complaint system.

He also thanked ‘Footpath Thai Style’ for acting as a voice for Bangkok residents and apologised for the incident.

The Bang Phlat district office re-inspected the location on July 17th and has issued a formal notice of legal proceedings to the offender.

A notice has also been sent to the owner of the motorcycle, requiring him to report to the authorities within three days, or face a fine of up to 5,000 baht under the Public Cleanliness Act.