internet freedom

21 Nov 2016
The amended version of the controversial Computer Crime Act will give the Thai authorities a blank check to close down websites as the regime wishes, said an internet freedom advocate.   
26 May 2016
International rights organisations have expressed concerns that the amendment of the Computer Crime Act might violate the rights to freedom of expression and to privacy. On Thursday, 26 May 2016, Amnesty International, the Thai Netizen Network (TNN) and Privacy International handed a joint statement to Pol Gen Chatchawan Suksomjit, Chair of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) committee vetting the amended version of the Computer Crime Act.
5 May 2016
In the first apparent acknowledgement it is cooperating with Thai authorities in censoring content, Facebook has blocked its users in Thailand from accessing a page satirizing Thailand’s Royal Family, citing local laws. Facebook users in Thailand on Thursday discovered that they can no longer view a satirical page which occasionally lampoons the monarchy. 
28 Apr 2016
Thailand’s military government is brazenly seeking to shut down debate ahead of a referendum on a draft constitution, Amnesty International said today. At least a dozen Facebook commenters have been detained or charged on 27 April under a draconian new Order issued by the head of the military government. The arrests come after they commented on the controversial draft of a new constitution Thailand’s military government is seeking to impose. The Facebook users who were charged under the law now face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of 200,000 baht ($5,715).
27 Apr 2016
A lawyer and the administrator of a Facebook page opposing supernatural beliefs have filed a lѐse majesté complaint, accusing many internet users of defaming the monarchy on Facebook and YouTube.
1 Mar 2016
After the Defence Ministry gave the green light to the Cyber Security Bill yesterday, human rights organizations urged the government to reveal details of the bill for public scrutiny. Amnesty International (AI), iLaw, an internet based human rights advocacy group, and Thai Netizen Network (TNN), a civil society group advocating internet freedom, on Tuesday, 1 March 2016, issued a joint statement to demand that the authorities disclose to the public the Cyber Security Bill, the Protection of Personal Information Bill, and the amended draft of the Computer Crime Act.
25 Jan 2016
In a move to discipline netizens, the Thai police has set up millions of baht of budget to purchase a new software to monitor social media.     According to Blognone News,The Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) of the Royal Thai Police has announced a  bidding to purchase a software to monitor facebook, twitter, and Pantip.com. a Thai-language website discussion forum.
18 Nov 2015
Thailand’s Buddhist religious authorities have announced a policy to defrock monks who post ‘inappropriate’ messages and other online content on social media. Chayaphon Pongsida, the Deputy Director of the Office of National Buddhism (ONB), announced on Tuesday, 17 November 2015, that Mahathera Samakhom, the Sangha (clergy) Supreme Council of Thailand, recently came up with a new policy to control the online behaviour of Buddhist monks.
21 Oct 2015
The Thai Army has established an ‘Army Cyber Centre’ to boost the military’s online defence capacity whose primary task is to protect the Thai monarchy.   On Monday, 19 October 2015, Gen Sommai Kaotira, Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, the commanders-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army, Navy, and Air Force, and Pol Gen Chakthip Chaijinda, Chief of the Royal Thai Police, met at the Military Headquarters in Bangkok to announce the establishment of the Army Cyber Centre.
5 Oct 2015
The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) has blocked a website used by anti-single internet gateway netizens to carry out attacks on government websites. On Sunday, 4 October 2015, the MICT blocked ‘refreshthis.com’, a website used to carry out cyber-attacks on government websites by many people opposing the junta’s plan to reduce internet gateways to one.
1 Oct 2015
Despite the recent cyber-attacks on government websites from netizens opposed to the single internet gateway, the Thai authorities say that they will continue to study its feasibility. On Thursday afternoon, 1 October 2015, Uttama Savanayana, the Minister of Information and Communications Technology (MICT), held a press briefing about symbolic cyber-attacks on several government websites on Wednesday night by internet users who oppose government plans to reduce internet gateways to one.
31 Dec 2014
Thailand’s leading Internet freedom advocacy group has condemned the Thai authorities for allowing Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to block lèse majesté and other websites viewed as threats to national security the moment they see one.    

Pages

Subscribe to internet freedom