No action was taken against Alphabet`s Google, as originally proposed, as it removed all YouTube videos specified in the order Wednesday night, Puttipong said. The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society has filed complaints with the Cybercrime Police after the two social media companies missed deadlines to fully comply with takedown orders issued by the courts, Minister Puttipong Punnakanta said. After half a decade of repressive military rule following the 2014 coup, many hoped last year`s elections would be a catalyst for human rights progress. But a year after General Prayut – who also led the previous military regime – Thailand`s elected government has stepped up efforts to silence online voting. 1. In November 2019, an activist was arrested and interrogated by 10 police officers as punishment for her Twitter posts about the government and the monarchy, one of which received 60,000 retweets. Before deleting her account, the student tweeted: « I want to warn everyone to think before tweeting and retweeting. These are people who are always watching. » Indigenous Australians accept planned gas project, win legal battle BANGKOK (AP) — Facebook is planning legal action against the Thai government for ordering the social media platform to partially block access to a group critical of the Thai monarchy, the company said Tuesday. Even though he stayed away from home, King Maha Vajiralongkorn increased his personal authority over the billions of dollars in crown possessions and army units that were instrumental in Thailand`s coup. A dozen coups have been ousted by civilian governments since the country became a constitutional monarchy. Facebook has been criticized for circulating hate speech and misinformation around the world, giving authoritarian governments a tool to target their critics.
You can change or cancel your subscription or online trial at any time. Simply log in to Settings & Account and select « Cancel » on the right. (Bloomberg) — Thailand has threatened legal action against posts on social media platforms critical of the monarchy as student protests demanding more democracy and restrictions on King Maha Vajiralongkorn`s power gain ground across the country. BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand filed a lawsuit on Thursday against tech giants Facebook and Twitter for ignoring requests to remove content. The ministry will make further requests asking Facebook, Twitter and Google to remove more than 3,000 articles, some of which contain criticism of the monarchy, Puttipong said. Amnesty International spoke to human rights defenders, activists, politicians, lawyers and academics for the report, which describes how the Thai government criminalizes freedom of expression to silence perceived criticism of the authorities. The king`s fourth wife, Queen Suthida Vajiralongkorn Na Ayudhya, a former flight attendant, also lives mainly in Europe, as does the heir apparent, Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti. The king`s noble wife, an official position the king reintroduced for the first time since Thailand abandoned absolute monarchy in 1932, also spent most of her time in Europe before being radically cleansed up last year. Many of those targeted for their online posts are currently awaiting trial and face up to five years in prison and heavy fines.
The government uses a series of repressive laws to crack down on critical voices. Standard Digital provides access to a wealth of news, analysis and expert opinions from around the world. Premium Digital offers access to our leading business section, Lex, as well as 15 curated newsletters on key business topics with original and in-depth coverage. For a full comparison of Standard and Premium Digital standards, click here. The ministry also filed separate complaints against five people it said criticized the monarchy on Facebook and Twitter during a large anti-government protest over the weekend, Puttipong said. The king, whose father was the world`s longest-reigning monarch when he died in 2016, spends most of his time outside Thailand. Critics have questioned why he is rarely in the country, especially at a time when Thailand is facing its worst economic decline in decades amid the coronavirus pandemic. The platforms would then have 15 days to comply or take legal action. Facebook blocked access to the site from Thailand on Monday, but it remained accessible in other countries.
The California-based company said in a statement that it made the decision after careful consideration and planned to legally challenge the government`s request. Previous Thai governments have regularly blocked online content deemed critical of the monarchy. Critics of the palace and the military`s allied government were jailed. Hundreds more have been forced to undergo indoctrination sessions organized from military bases. Following a government warning, the company restricted access to a Facebook group critical of the Thai monarchy. But he said he would challenge the order. « You`re Always Watching » shows how, since its election last year, the government of General Prayut Chan-O-Cha has increasingly used vague or overly broad laws to criminalize dozens of peaceful critics. These include the Computer Crime Act, which was amended in 2016 to give authorities permission to monitor and remove online content and prosecute individuals for various general violations of the law. See also: `Down with dictatorship`: Thailand sees biggest anti-government protest in years Thailand has some of the strictest lese majeste laws in the world, making it a crime to criticize members of the royal family. Other laws, including a sedition bill and a computer crime law, have also been used to target critics from the royal family, even as protesters have taken to the streets in recent weeks to limit the monarchy`s power. Facebook on Tuesday condemned the government`s request, saying it would ask a Thai court to revoke the order filed against the company`s operations in Thailand. The cybercrime police said at a press conference that they need to review existing laws to determine whether they have jurisdiction to prosecute companies based outside Thailand.
The monarchy is considered sacrosanct in Thailand and any criticism is usually voiced in private. A lese majeste law provides for a prison sentence of up to 15 years for anyone convicted of defaming the king. On 26 March, the Government invoked the Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situations (2005). Under Article 9 of the 2005 Emergency Decree, officials have the power to censor or alter information they deem false or distorted, with the potential to create public anxiety or misunderstanding – with a penalty of up to two years in prison. « Demands like this are serious, violate international human rights law, and act as a deterrent to people`s ability to express themselves, » Facebook said in a statement. « We are working to protect and defend the rights of all internet users and are preparing to legally challenge this request. » « By harassing and persecuting critics online, the Thai government has created a climate of fear to silence people with dissenting views, » said Clare Algar, Senior Director of Research, Advocacy and Policy at Amnesty International. « I never thought I would be the founder of the fastest growing social group in Thailand, » Pavin said in an interview. « When I go through the members, I realize that they are not just young people, but secularists, middle-aged people, so many people in Thailand who just want the right to speak openly about the monarchy. » « This is the first time we have used the Computer Crime Act to crack down on platforms that do not comply with court orders, » Puttipong told reporters. On March 24, 2020, General Prayut warned against prosecution for « social media abuse, » adding to fears that authorities could prosecute people who have criticized the Thai government`s response to the virus.
A tense political atmosphere has united in Thailand, with weeks of student protests demanding democratic reforms and increased scrutiny of King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun. Members of the urban middle class have been drawn to the protests, with more than 10,000 people gathering at the Democracy Monument earlier this month. Buddhipongse said Wednesday that he doubted Facebook would launch a legal challenge to the site`s blocking order, as they appeared to understand why the government had acted. The group was founded in April by Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a 49-year-old Thai academic living in Japan. It hosts open discussions about the country`s monarchy, an institution strictly protected from criticism by strict laws. Despite a pause in lese majeste law enforcement to prosecute alleged critics of the monarchy, the government has used other laws for the same purpose. Both the Computer Crime Act and Article 116 of the Penal Code have been used to bring criminal charges against individuals whose online posts were deemed harmful to the monarchy and the authorities. « The measures we have taken, » Prayut said Tuesday, referring to Facebook, « are in accordance with Thai law and do not use the powers of the dictatorship. » The protesters criticized the government and demanded reforms to the monarchy.