Civil rights group calls for action to stop new Computer Crime Bill

A civil society group has called on people to engage in a social media campaign to prevent the junta’s lawmakers to pass the new draconian Computer Crime Bill.

On 10 December 2016, iLaw, human rights advocacy group, initiated a campaign to pressure the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) not to pass amended version of the controversial Computer Crime Act.
 
The NLA will consider the controversial bill on 15 December.
 
According to Thai Netizen Network, a civil society organisation promoting internet freedom, Article 20 of the new draft, the authorities will be able to block or delete online content while the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES) will establish a centre whose task is to block and delete online.
 
The bill greatly shortens the process to for the authorities to block internet concents.
 
Under the 2007 Computer Crime Act, there are three steps required to block internet contents. The authorities will have to obtain court orders and then present court orders to the Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to close or block websites.

In addition, Article 14 of the bill sets a penalty of up to five years in prison for spreading false computer data or information which could threaten national security, public infrastructures and morale, is broad enough to criminalise any dissenting or critical idea posted online on platforms as innocent as a Facebook comments.

Natchapakorn Ngammuang, iLaw officer, said that at the forum on the new Computer Crime Bill in late November the the bill drafters said that once the final draft of the bill is completed a public debate about the bill will be held, but the debated was never held as promised.
 
It is possible that the NLA will rush the process to pass the bill as quick as possible, Natchapakorn pointed out.
 
iLaw asks people to send the infographics criticising the bill it had produced to social media accounts of the NLA and its members listed below:
 
Facebook: @SenateThailand, @NLAMeetPeople, @Thaiparliamentchannel, @สุรชัย เลี้ยงบุญเลิศชัย, @surangkana.wayuparb.

Twitter: @TPchannel, @SurangkanaWayup

The human rights advocacy group also urges people to write email along with the infographics about the controversial bill to email address of relevant authorities below:   
 
 

Below, iLaw in infographics criticising the controversial Computer Crime Bill

 

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