SMS political campaigning allowed

November 3rd, 2005

The Election Commission of Thailand (EC) has agreed to allow political parties to conduct their campaign through mobile phone messages or SMS.

EC had been asked by an SMS software developer, MDM I&C Co. whether sending SMS text messages urging Thais to vote for particular political parties were banned under the electoral law.

The EC has allowed SMS campaigning on the condition that the texts did not offer benefit in exchange for support, or defame other candidates or political parties, a commission source said.

The cost of the SMS texts will be counted as election campaign expenses, which are being strictly monitored by the EC.

Political SMS campaigning had been widely used in South Korean elections in the past, MDM I&C’s chief of marketing, Seung Ho Choi told TNA.

The company is now keen to see it used in Thailand.