#SavePornhub: Thailand's online porn ban prompts backlash

By Patpicha Tanakasempipat

 

A message from the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society saying that the Pornhub website has been suspended in Thailand is displayed on a TV screen in this illustration picture taken November 3, 2020. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha/Illustration

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's government said on Tuesday it had banned Pornhub and 190 other websites showing pornography, prompting social media anger over censorship and a call for a protest against the decision.

 

Digital minister Puttipong Punnakanta told reporters the block was part of efforts to restrict access to porn and gambling websites, adding that such content is illegal under the country's cybercrime law.

 

But many Thai users criticised the decision to shut the site in a country that was among the Top 20 by daily traffic for Pornhub in 2019 and which has a globally-known sex industry.

 

An activist group called Anonymous Party posted a statement saying: "We want to reclaim Pornhub. People are entitled to choices." Another group, using the hashtag #SavePornhub, called a demonstration for Tuesday afternoon.

 

Pornhub did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

 

A hashtag that translates as #HornyPower is trending on Thai Twitter following the Pornhub block, with tweets making comments or posting memes that the government would be facing greater opposition now beyond the protesters.

 

"If someone doesn’t hate the current military government, now they probably do," said a user named Jirawat Punnawat on Twitter.

 

Emilie Pradichit, director of the Manushya Foundation, which campaigns for digital rights, said the decision showed Thailand was "a land of digital dictatorship, with conservatives in power trying to control what young people can watch, can say and can do online."

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-11-03

 

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Protest swells at ministry after Pornhub, adult sites blocked in Thailand

By THE NATION

 

 

The student-led protest movement urged supporters to gather at the Chaengwattana Government Complex in Bangkok at 4pm on Tuesday, as tensions rose over yet another act of government censorship.

 

After the Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry blocked the popular adult website Pornhub on Monday night, the hashtag #พลังเงี่_น (Horny Power) began trending on Tuesday morning.

 

The United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration (UFTD) protest group said they would rally this afternoon at the Government Complex on Laksi Road, where the ministry is located. Netizens urged them to add unblocking Pornhub to their three core demands – the PM’s resignation, charter change and monarchy reform.

 

On Tuesday morning, DES Minister Buddhipongse Punnakanta said the move to block access to Pornhub and 190 other adult sites in Thailand was taken after the court’s okay. He added that the decision was not related to a clip featuring a prominent Thai personality that was posted on the website.

 

Social media users angered by the censorship have mocked the DES for a move they say will draw more people to the pornography website, which can still be accessed via various “cheats” being shared online.

 

Other netizens have applauded the government for blocking a website they say featured videos created via child trafficking or rape.

 

The government has blocked thousands of websites and social media accounts, many over political content, since the coup in 2014.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30397261

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-11-03

 

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"Other netizens have applauded the government for blocking a website they say featured videos created via child trafficking or rape."

 

BS! Child trafficking and rape. Serious? Hit the government with defamation.

9 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

over yet another act of government censorship.

military govt; the minions must obey, never question

14 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

He added that the decision was not related to a clip featuring a prominent Thai personality that was posted on the website.

 

Who is that personality?

33 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

"If someone doesn’t hate the current military government, now they probably do," said a user named Jirawat Punnawat on Twitter.

 

Not many left who do not yet hate the government. And day by day less.

I really want to see some twitter videos with protestors shouting pooorn-hub!pooorrn-hub!

 

Been too long since a good hub.

Ahh! Maintaining Thailand's pristine, squeaky clean image. Does Thailand really need sex? ????????

I find it just utterly fascinating that the blocking of a Porn website has made National news and for the last 30 minutes has been a discussion on the nightly channel 32 TV broadcast.  I also noticed the reports are now popping up on the international news websites.  What a shame for Thailand to now have to defend itself...lol

Just now, ThailandRyan said:

I find it just utterly fascinating that the blocking of a Porn website has made National news and for the last 30 minutes has been a discussion on the nightly channel 32 TV broadcast.  I also noticed the reports are now popping up on the international news websites.  What a shame for Thailand to now have to defend itself...lol

Just add it to the stupid list...... 

Will the Thai government compensate for lost subscription cost?

Asking for a friend. 

This whole issue has just now probably given the pornhub website new subscribers and is the best free advertising they could have ever been given, laughing all the way to the bank for those that now are also buying VPN subscriptions to get around the blocking.

I just ty[ped in pornhub, it's still there.  ????

Oh wait, I'm currently in a civilized country.  ????

27 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

This whole issue has just now probably given the pornhub website new subscribers and is the best free advertising they could have ever been given, laughing all the way to the bank for those that now are also buying VPN subscriptions to get around the blocking.

I've always used a VPN.  I get ticked off with the amount that google and others spy on me.  

1 hour ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

 

Who is that personality?

If you don't know its best not to ask... publicly.

They should start a petition to get the ban lifted.

It would be signed several hundred times by members of TVF. 

By that I mean each member would sign it several hundred times ????

much better sites out there anyways....

 

pattaya.com

patong.com

nana.com

soicowboy.com

 

Posted on the website of an agency that provided live coverage of the protest:

 

"Give me Pornhub, or give me death!"

 

 

Is this why they are protesting?

3 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

 banned Pornhub and 190 other websites showing pornography

 

Wow. I am much relieved. I thought I was a really degenerate porn monger and worried for my soul because of the porn I surf.

 

Now I see I have 180 websites previously unknown to me and realize I am actually a paragon of virtue compared to some.

 

I wish I could talk to St Peter or someone in authority to delineate the cut of point between heaven and he'll.

 

I could make a lot of money and save my soul to boot with this information.

This could be a scheme to help the rub and tug industry

You know. The massage parlors that have a sign in front 

sayin No Sex but the massage girls are wearing bikinis 555

It got banned because someone was seen vaping without the regulation 2 years in jail or paying 100,000 bt fine ???? 

Well, then the kids will have way more interest in hamsters with an X in front. Innit? 

11 minutes ago, sammieuk1 said:

It got banned because someone was seen vaping without the regulation 2 years in jail or paying 100,000 bt fine ???? 

Nope, they found somebody masturbating without wearing a mask and he got fined 20 baht. 

Any news on the status of  chackwow.com ?

 

Thailand the "HUB"...blocks Pornhub the HUB of Porn...in the meantime there tons of Porns doing their freelance hububing in Pattaya, Phuket and several locals throughout Bangkok

I though all porn sites had already been banned in Thailand for years .I agree with it in that children should not have easy access to Porn.Of course its easy to bypass by VPN.

9 hours ago, gravity101 said:

If you don't know its best not to ask... publicly.

That is a superb reply.  And with digital spies reading everything that is the correct answer.  

How funny that this topic is being talked about. Those of you that have a special relationship with pornhub can just use a vpn and problem solved.

11 hours ago, Rookiescot said:

They should start a petition to get the ban lifted.

It would be signed several hundred times by members of TVF. 

By that I mean each member would sign it several hundred times ????

Yes need to get the ban lifted, there are quite a lot a hand crankers on here.