Thailand ranked among the worst countries for internet freedom

[ArcticFox]

3 hours ago, Berkshire said:

While internet freedom is a wonderful concept, I can see how "too much" freedom is not necessarily a wonderful thing.  I can agree that restrictive internet like the way it's practiced in N. Korea is horrible.  But internet freedom as practiced in the USA can have side effects.  Internet in the USA is so massively infected with misinformation, fake news, hate speech, and all manner of <deleted> that a large number of Americans have become brainwashed morons.  Perhaps there's a middle ground.  

There is no middle ground unless you're a proponent of totalitarianism.  When you start calling people who have a differing opinion than yourself 'brainwashed' you're already walking the path.

[ArcticFox]

3 hours ago, tomazbodner said:

and make use of VPNs a criminal offense like China.

Next to impossible to enforce for the same reason that you don't see police in patrol cars issuing tickets.  They have neither the funding nor the manpower.

[GinBoy2]

39 minutes ago, timmyp said:

The U.S. has been a fantastic leader here by blocking Iranian domain names, and Jen Psaki calling for anyone censored on one platform to be taken down on all platforms. The tech giants were shown in the U.S. Congress that if they don't start censoring content, then they will be subjected to government controls. Mainstream media's demonization of alternative platforms like Substack and Rokfin are another wonderful demonstration of how societies should censor any information that questions mainstream narratives.

 

If you're tsk-tsking Thailand and China and not realizing what's happening in the U.S. and elsewhere under the guise of controlling misinformation, then you really need to open your eyes.

Slightly different issue.

 

The US banned Iranian websites from being hosted on US servers. Those same websites simply relocated their hosting to servers within Iran. 

 

Those domain names are still accessible to every US citizen should they wish to read them.

 

That's very different from banning your citizens from reading content.

 

As for VPN's, Beijing works tirelessly to ban encrypted VPN's, and do a pretty good job, but the VPN companies work to develop new protocols to avoid detection, but it's a cat n mouse game.

 

I haven't lived in mainland China since 2004, even back then the online censorship was pretty extreme, and I know from friends in China who tell me those were the 'good times'.

 

My prediction is that sooner or later the regime in Thailand will move aggressively to import and utilize Great Firewall technology.

 

At that point some of the less tech savvy of you, better be brushing up on your IT skills 

Edited August 8, 2021 by GinBoy2

[herfiehandbag]

2 hours ago, Doctor Tom said:

Yes indeed they do, but they are paranoid, criminal, megalomaniac control freaks, with a morbid fear of the Capitalist west, the Thais are none of those things. 

The Thai people are certainly not.

 

The clans running the country however...

[metisdead]

A post with a video using profane language has been removed. 

[ArcticFox]

7 minutes ago, herfiehandbag said:

2 hours ago, Doctor Tom said:

Yes indeed they do, but they are paranoid, criminal, megalomaniac control freaks, with a morbid fear of the Capitalist west, the Thais are none of those things. 

The Thai people are certainly not.

 

The clans running the country however.

paranoid, megalomaniac control freaks

Raise your hand if you have completed a 90 day report within the last three months!

Edited August 8, 2021 by ArcticFox

[Doctor Tom]

3 minutes ago, ArcticFox said:

paranoid, megalomaniac control freaks

Raise your hand if you have completed a 90 day report within the last three months!

Haha, a bit of proportionality needed in that comment. Doing a very simple 90 day report, often online, or by post, is hardly the same as living in the Chinese  communist dictatorship? 

[daveAustin]

3 hours ago, Berkshire said:

While internet freedom is a wonderful concept, I can see how "too much" freedom is not necessarily a wonderful thing.  I can agree that restrictive internet like the way it's practiced in N. Korea is horrible.  But internet freedom as practiced in the USA can have side effects.  Internet in the USA is so massively infected with misinformation, fake news, hate speech, and all manner of <deleted> that a large number of Americans have become brainwashed morons.  Perhaps there's a middle ground.  

Have become or already were? I’d prefer to have the choice to believe what I choose than have some self-centered tinpot corrupt army decide for me. But apparently some sado lemmings it that way. Steven will be along in a minute to tell us all the sterling job ‘kuhn’ prayut is doing. ????????

[RichardColeman]

4 hours ago, cyril sneer said:

porn has never been blocked when accessing through a google search

A 'friend' tell you this ? ???? 

[Gottfrid]

That it´s really bad? Yes, no doubt! However, there are some things that needs to be discussed.

 

First, how can 8 out of 11 be called results compared to the same study made in 2020 where the result was 6 out of 20? According to me, it´s hard to see that as the same.

 

Second, at least there are some countries that makes their people suffer more. We must see that as a positive.

 

At last, this if not the only fall for Thailand. (Please read below)

 

• At the lowest on the list regarding internet freedom.
• One of the worst countries in the world regarding traffic accidents.
• Probably the worst country in the world regarding visa rules and regulations.
• Worst performing currency in Asia 2021.
• One of the least vaccinated countries against Covid-19.
• Listed together with Vietnam as the two countries that will have the longest recovery time in Asia.

Just wonder when someone is going to understand that they do something wrong somewhere?

[jacko45k]

38 minutes ago, Doctor Tom said:

Haha, a bit of proportionality needed in that comment. Doing a very simple 90 day report, often online, or by post, is hardly the same as living in the Chinese  communist dictatorship? 

Yes, my UK bank is more intrusive, wanting to know the ins and outs of a penny fart... bet USA guys feel the same about the IRS!

[Kalasin Jo]

No surprise. 

[TigerandDog]

4 hours ago, cyril sneer said:

porn has never been blocked when accessing through a google search

some sites have been. They still appear in the google search but when you try to access the site you get a big warning in red that the site has been blocked by the Thai authorities.

[jacko45k]

1 minute ago, TigerandDog said:

some sites have been. They still appear in the google search but when you try to access the site you get a big warning in red that the site has been blocked by the Thai authorities.

Then a knock on the door.....

[tomazbodner]

1 hour ago, ArcticFox said:

Next to impossible to enforce for the same reason that you don't see police in patrol cars issuing tickets.  They have neither the funding nor the manpower.

True now, but a dangerous assumption to make for the future.

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Thailand has been ranked among the worst countries in the world for internet freedom

And they wonder why people protest in the streets or even have the idea of getting out from Thailand.

[wwest5829]

5 hours ago, tomazbodner said:

Disagree. It could order all Thai gateways (which by law should all be at CAT or whatever TOT+CAT is called now) block IP ranges or domains (which it is already doing for many domains) and make use of VPNs a criminal offense like China. It is not hard to detect VPN tunnels going through your gateways. Those also collect logs which can be analysed by automatic scripts. So if they wanted, all it would take is some investment and training, and they can take full control of your internet connection.

NSA background … asking for a friend. (No, I am not serious just joking). I do fear I see far too many traits following the China social control thinking but I see this in the US, England, etc. in the name of security, of course.

[Emdog]

I suppose the authorities see this very site as comedy and not political. Besides, who listens to farangs?

[Uroller]

You can tell when a corrupt and inept government is in trouble, as they try to silence the world on their massive failure to run a country and protect its citizens????????

[canthai55]

From the Op - "Despite already being publish in Royal Gazette, Thailand's Civil Court on Friday ruled the ban as unconstitutional. "

this puts Thailand ahead of Canada, where social media ban is already in place.

former CRTC chair Peter Menzies was against the bill, and had said that "Granting a government agency authority over legal, user generated content doesn't just infringe on free expression, it constitutes a full-blown assault on it."

https://thepostmillennial.com/watch-trudeaus-heritage-minister-stumbles-through-disastrous-interview-on-internet-censorship-bill

[Mr Meeseeks]

6 hours ago, Doctor Tom said:

Yes indeed they do, but they are paranoid, criminal, megalomaniac control freaks, with a morbid fear of the Capitalist west, the Thais are none of those things. 

Have you ever been to Thailand? 

[ukrules]

7 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

"All of these countries (in the eighth tier) ban pornography, have heavily censored political media, restrict social media (bans have also been seen in Turkmenistan), and restrict the use of VPNs,” said Comparitech.

Well that's not accurate at all.

 

It's fake news. Should I report it to the government hotline?

 

I jest of course but I've never come across any VPN restriction in Thailand, ever.

Edited August 8, 2021 by ukrules

[thaitom]

3 hours ago, ArcticFox said:

paranoid, megalomaniac control freaks

Raise your hand if you have completed a 90 day report within the last three months!

I haven't, but I know a friend who has.

[Peterphuket]

There is also the Onion browser, instead of VPN

[olfu]

3 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Yes, my UK bank is more intrusive, wanting to know the ins and outs of a penny fart... bet USA guys feel the same about the IRS!

Yes, we do and more...

[Doctor Tom]

1 hour ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

Have you ever been to Thailand? 

How very original . 

[Thingamabob]

8 hours ago, tomazbodner said:

Who sponsored this? Pornhub? There's more to internet than porn and politics.

Really ?

[richard_smith237]

Just now, Thingamabob said:

8 hours ago, tomazbodner said:

Who sponsored this? Pornhub? There's more to internet than porn and politics.

Really ?

Well <deleted> and <deleted> realistically <deleted> <deleted> <deleted> REDACTED the issue... 

 

 

[MrJ2U]

Thats a pity.

 

Very fast though.

[simon43]

9 hours ago, Misterwhisper said:

What I find so disgusting is that we are here looking at a regime on the far right of the political spectrum and which is almost exactly and in every minute detail emulating the internet censorship as imposed by the Communist Party of China, a regime on the far left.

 

But that only goes to prove that rightwing extremism and leftwing extremism are actually bedfellows that get along just splendidly. That is because their respective main objectives are practically identical: total control over and systematic oppression of the general population.  

LoL, here in 'communist' Laos, I have never had any issues with blocked websites.  Pornhub is open (well, so a friend told me!).  Even my favorite rubberwear wholesale supplier website is accessible.... ????