Is it legal to film police officers in Thailand?

[FarAway]

If one ever get into an unwanted confrontation with police officers, is it legal to film them to protect oneself from potential wrong-doing of the police?

[SCOTT FITZGERSLD]

i once saw a thai man approach a tourist in hua hin walking street. and smack him on his face

20-30 times non stop without saying a thing. i got up from my chair and got closer in a hope to stop the brutal attack. the thai man told me "i am a policeman".

so from this point, what would you do? would you take out your phone and record the incident?

anyway allmost every corner is covered by CCTV so the choice is yours.

[Jenkster]

Also keep in mind that some people may claim to be police when they are not, especially with expats so the legality might not really matter for whatever they're up to. 

[Regyai]

Whether they are or are not bona fide brownshirts - they will be the arbiters of legality in the moment.

 

Bear in mind there is no police complaints authority etc in Thailand

 

However multiple uploads to social media does seem to be the go to panacea for resolution in the land of smiles. Though how you orchestrate that when immersed in your hypothetical 'unwanted confrontation' might be a conundrum

[JoseThailand]

It is not only legal, it is advisable. In fact, it is a very effective way for making them follow the law.

[JoseThailand]

45 minutes ago, Regyai said:

Bear in mind there is no police complaints authority etc in Thailand

There is Tourist Police, Complaints Office, Ombudsman, etc. You can even complain to the regular police, too.

See more here: https://www.en.siam-info.de/paperwork/royal_police.html

[JoseThailand]

In Khaosan road, patrol police regularly stop and search foreigners, without any probable cause or search warrant. That's clearly a violation of Thai laws and must be reported. Most tourists don't wanna take the trouble, though.

[Iamfalang]

go to another country, try to fit in........you came here for happiness.   you came here to enjoy your life.

 

now you want to mess with their police.

 

good luck with that.    pack your bags.  

[JoseThailand]

31 minutes ago, Iamfalang said:

go to another country, try to fit in........you came here for happiness.   you came here to enjoy your life.

 

now you want to mess with their police.

 

good luck with that.    pack your bags.  

Yes, you should bend over, spread your butt cheeks and enjoy.

[Excel]

1 hour ago, JoseThailand said:

It is not only legal, it is advisable. In fact, it is a very effective way for making them follow the law.

Yes and the filming of their brutality and live streams on Youtube by some sections of the national media is also effective, so had it been illegal then no doubt the PM and his boss would have them shut down by now.

[chuang]

You film them they shot you...

[CharlieH]

Like most things. Depends entirely on the view of the man in uniform usually wearing a gun thats stood in front of you.

 

If I felt the need, it would be done as covertly as possible so as not to antagonise

[Excel]

2 hours ago, chuang said:

You film them they shot you...

Unless you film them killing people by putting plastic bags over their head.

[richard_smith237]

I was with some Thai friends (all BiB), they’d hired out some hotels rooms and turned it into a casino !!

I took out my phone....   Yeah, judging by the reaction of some, taking photo’s or filming the BiB definitely feels illegal !!!!  ????

 

 

[lopburi3]

8 hours ago, Excel said:

Yes and the filming of their brutality and live streams on Youtube by some sections of the national media is also effective, so had it been illegal then no doubt the PM and his boss would have them shut down by now.

Since June 1 the Personal Data Protection Act has come into effect and that could be used to make anyone posting such images libel for damage caused to persons on video.  It could be a slippery slope.

[Lemsta69]

10 hours ago, JoseThailand said:

In Khaosan road, patrol police regularly stop and search foreigners, without any probable cause or search warrant. That's clearly a violation of Thai laws and must be reported. Most tourists don't wanna take the trouble, though.

"must be reported"...why? we're not in Kansas anymore, Dodo ????

[Excel]

3 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

Since June 1 the Personal Data Protection Act has come into effect and that could be used to make anyone posting such images libel for damage caused to persons on video.  It could be a slippery slope.

I would like to see some of these Vloggers charged with that but the ladies would possibly have no wish to be involved publicly after the embarrassment of the initial video should they have suffered in some way.  Doubt the actual bar owners would want it as all they want is publicity in any shape or form. I feel sorry for the embarrassment some of the girls may suffer due to some idiot putting something on Youtube to generate likes.

[JoseThailand]

27 minutes ago, Lemsta69 said:

"must be reported"...why? we're not in Kansas anymore, Dodo ????

As a tourist, you are deprived of civil rights?

[jvs]

A lot of Police are also carrying cameras now,and i have seen a lot of Thai people recording

their encounters with the police.

I do not think a policeman would slap a foreigner for filming him/her/it

while they are being stopped.

All the RTP members wear a number,no need to feel intimidated.

 

[FarAway]

10 hours ago, Iamfalang said:

go to another country, try to fit in........you came here for happiness.   you came here to enjoy your life.

 

now you want to mess with their police.

 

good luck with that.    pack your bags.  

 

People like you are the main reason why this country is so <deleted> up.

Yes exactly, I came here for happiness and to enjoy my life, and not be live in a country where everyone is <deleted> up, depressed, stupid, sheepish and try to not stick out, while the country evolves to China 2.0

[Lemsta69]

3 hours ago, JoseThailand said:

As a tourist, you are deprived of civil rights?

your profile says you joined Thaivisa 2019. you've been here long enough to know the answer to that.

[Liverpool Lou]

15 hours ago, JoseThailand said:

In Khaosan road, patrol police regularly stop and search foreigners, without any probable cause or search warrant. That's clearly a violation of Thai laws and must be reported.

What was the reaction when you reported it?   I'm presuming that you did so because you said that it must be reported, or is it just other people, not you, that you expect to take that risk?

 

Incidentally, do you have any idea of the requirements to meet "probable cause" under Thai law?

[Tropposurfer]

My response would be don't especially if;

• You don't speak and understand really good conversational Thai.
• they know you are doing so i.e. you are not filming them from a discreet undetected distance so as to be undetected doing so.
• This is not the US where people do all sort of videoing stuff and assert their right to do so - the laws here are VERY different as are the interpretations of same
• If you are being shaken-down pay the bucks and get away as clean as you can.
• These guys - if on the take/shake-down will bring you a lot of grief if you start importing and overlaying your democratic western ideals onto them via cameras and 'rights to film' etc

[scorecard]

On 6/26/2022 at 1:56 AM, SCOTT FITZGERSLD said:

i once saw a thai man approach a tourist in hua hin walking street. and smack him on his face

20-30 times non stop without saying a thing. i got up from my chair and got closer in a hope to stop the brutal attack. the thai man told me "i am a policeman".

so from this point, what would you do? would you take out your phone and record the incident?

anyway allmost every corner is covered by CCTV so the choice is yours.

" ...anyway allmost every corner is covered by CCTV so the choice is yours."

 

Keeping in mind of course that in many locations many cameras / banks of cameras are fake, not connected to anything, broken and never fixed...

[Purdey]

I remember in distant history a police general did say it is legal and advised so the policeman in front of you is careful. As many of us have video cameras on the windscreen these days, it is a precaution worth taking. Be careful, I think it is illegal to hold a mobile phone in a car even if stopped. Someone else maybe remembers the law. 

[rwill]

It's probably legal since you see videos with police quite often.

 

But they just passed that new law where you could be charged if you post a video online of a crime.  You're supposed to give it to the police.

[JoseThailand]

3 hours ago, Tropposurfer said:

My response would be don't especially if;

• You don't speak and understand really good conversational Thai.

I would never, in all sanity, speak with them a word in Thai. Only English. I would make calls to Tourist Police and embassy immediately.

[JoseThailand]

22 hours ago, Lemsta69 said:

your profile says you joined Thaivisa 2019. you've been here long enough to know the answer to that.

I know that they are afraid of confrontation if you show them that you're not a pussy and know your rights, take a video, make phone calls, etc.

[JoseThailand]

On 6/26/2022 at 11:31 AM, chuang said:

You film them they shot you...

It's not America, bro.

[Lemsta69]

54 minutes ago, JoseThailand said:

I know that they are afraid of confrontation if you show them that you're not a pussy and know your rights, take a video, make phone calls, etc.

oh so you know the score then. so why you so worried about bagpackers on the KSR getting stopped by the BiB? they have the knowledge of the world at their fingertips, they could research that type of thing before they come to Thailand and be prepared instead of making themselves targets by walking around with drugs in their pockets. that's why the cops are stopping them, to get the "release fee". it's like fishing, gotta hail in a few minnows until you land the big fish. all part of The Game.