Open letter from Campaign for Popular Media Reform (CPMR) and Freedom Against Censorship Thailand (FACT) to Thai citizens

We agree with the need for rules to protect the public from computer crimes.  However, this law must not be used as a tool to control our Thai right to free communications.

Our observations are:
1). The new law gives far too broad powers to government officers to investigate computer data information both through the courts and direct power of by government officers as well as Internet Service Providers - ISPs must save all data for 90 days so that government officers check for violations by computer users in Thailand.  These investigations will be carried out in secret.  We liken this to our houses being searched without court order with no notification.  These searches can take place back 90 days.

The law is in effect now, but no mention has been made about the qualifications of the officers, called "competent authorities" in the act and who appoints them and assigns them to investigate.

2). There were initially six issues for computer laws to control computer crime and communication rights in Thailand , but it appears that this government intended to pass only a law which affects Thai's  communication rights.  The government has done nothing to protect personal privacy and information.

We're afraid that the government will use this new law to eliminate our basic human right to privacy and freedom of expression.  Government is using this law to conceal a hidden political agenda rather than protecting us from crime.  The Thai public must be aware of these effects and exercise their rights as citizens.

This act doesn't come from an elected legislature.  We ask cyber-dissidents to join together to protect our rights before anyone is charged under this law.

Cyber-crime and the rights of all people to free communication are two different things.  Political websites are not pornographic websites, but the government has made it sound that political discussion and dissent are obscene in Thailand.  Thai people no longer have the right to look, read, think, talk and express our opinions on the public area.

RESIST THE CYBERCRIME LAW!  CPMR and FACT call for an immediate repeal and review of the Computer-Relation Crimes Act.