Why did the Italian Embassy disable comments on its Facebook page?

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The Italian Embassy in Thailand Disabled Facebook Comments Following a Viral Online Backlash

The Italian Embassy in Thailand disabled comments on its Facebook page after a viral video of a confrontation on the BTS Skytrain led to an influx of thousands of angry Thai users. The incident involved a dispute between a Thai commuter and a group of foreign passengers over noise levels on the train. This online reaction extended to the embassy's social media presence, prompting the closure of comments on its latest post, which had garnered over 11,000 angry reactions.
Viral Confrontation on BTS Skytrain

A video depicting a heated exchange between a Thai commuter and a group of foreign passengers on the Bangkok BTS Skytrain gained significant traction online. The clip captured an argument that reportedly began over the group's loud behaviour within the train carriage. The video subsequently went viral across multiple platforms, including TikTok and X, accumulating millions of views and sparking widespread discussion.
Online Backlash Against the Embassy

Following the virality of the confrontation video, many Thai social media users identified the group as Italian students and directed their anger towards the Italian Embassy's Facebook page. The embassy's most recent post on the platform received a surge of negative reactions, exceeding 11,000, before the comment section was deactivated. This online backlash also spread to other areas of the embassy's social media presence and even extended to the social media accounts of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Public Reaction and Identity of Passengers

The viral clip showed a commuter requesting the group to lower their voices, citing Thai customs regarding noise levels. The exchange escalated into insults, with some passengers reportedly responding with profanity and aggressive remarks. While many online commenters assumed the group consisted of Italian students, their nationality and specific identities could not be independently verified at the time. The uploader of the video stated that their intention was to address the behaviour of the group and their supervisors, not to target any specific nationality.

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Why did the Italian Embassy disable comments on its Facebook page?

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