By Mutita Chuachang, Athit Suriyawongkul |
<p>Sawatree Suksri, a lecturer of the Faculty of Law, Thammasat University, who has studied computer-related law in Germany, talked to Prachatai about the 2007 Computer Crimes Act which she finds too ambiguous in many points, including, for example, national security, which has been subject to arbitrary interpretations by the authorities.</p>
By Asian Human Rights Commission |
<p>In recent days police in Thailand arrested and charged another person over causing a decline in the stock market by spreading rumours through the Internet about the king's health. </p>
By Reporters Without Borders |
<p>The legal tools that the authorities abuse to restrict free expression in Thailand are the <em><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/16852375/Act-on-Computer-Crime-25502007">2007 Computer Crime Act</a></em> and the lese majeste law (section 112 of the criminal code), which mainly targets Internet users. Harassment and intimidation are constantly employed to dissuade Internet users from freely expressing their views.</p>
By Thai Netizen Network |
<p>Thai Netizen Network demands Thai authorities to make clarification on the recent arrests of internet users, including Nat Sattayapornpisut in whose case the authorities are asked to disclose the means of accessing e-mail accounts and the law that entitled them to do so, 'since this matter may have violated people’s right to privacy and freedom to communicate'.</p>
By Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) |
<p>The Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) expresses its concern over a statement made by Information and Communication Technology Minister Ranongrak Suwanchawee of Thailand threatening to pursue legal action against websites and their respective Internet service providers (ISPs) where posts discussing the King’s health allegedly caused the drop in the Thai bourse last month.</p>
By Reporters Without Borders |
<p>Three Internet users have been arrested in the past four days for posting articles blaming King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s poor health for last month’s fall in the Bangkok stock exchange. They have been charged under article 14 of the Computer Crimes Act 2007 with endangering national security by spreading false rumours about the king’s health.</p>
<p>The translation of a Bloomberg news report was posted on the Prachatai webboard jus after 6 pm, after the Thai stock market had already slumped and closed on 14 Oct. The news report in question is Richard Frost’s <em>Thai Stocks, Baht Slump on King’s Health Speculation</em>, whose title indicates that the ‘slump’ had already taken place.</p>
<p>Theeranan Wiphuchanin, using the alias BBB, posted her translation at 18:09. </p>
By Freedom Against Censorship Thailand |
<p>We have just discovered free Thai language news site <a href="http://liberalthai.wordpress.com/">Liberal Thai</a> blocked by a transparent proxy redirecting users to Thailand’s ICT ministry.</p>
By People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy |
<p>Mr. Frank La Rue, UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression visited South Korea for attending international symposium on 'Freedom of Opinion and Expression in Cyber Space' and workshop on 'Situation of Freedom of Expression in South Korea and the Use of UN Special Procedures' between October 12 and October 15.</p>
<p>The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) is seeking more cooperation from relevant agencies and business groups to prevent inappropriate content on the internet. The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) says the National Telecommunication Commission (NTC) is authorized to withdraw or suspend the licenses of the Internet Service Providers (ISPs) who do not cooperate in blocking inappropriate web pages.</p>
<p>9,600 web pages have been blocked. The 2007 Computer Crimes Act will be amended to allow Internet Service Providers to immediately block ‘offensive’ web pages on sight or upon complaint without court orders or requests from the MICT, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry says.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">A police IT task force has been set up to monitor websites and track down those who offend the monarchy.<span> </span>Police find it difficult to deal with websites whose servers are located abroad.<span> </span>The Crime Suppression Division is investigating Thaksin’s phone-ins, and charges are likely to be made. <span> </span></span></p>