Stream of despair: US livestreamer threatens to kill himself if jailed in Thailand for distributing obscene content

[edwardflory]

Having lived in Thailand 10 years, and spent 4 years as a FTPA member, I have seen and heard much.  WE are guests in this country, and should behave as such. It doesn't matter what Thai's do or for that matter anyone in the country - citizen or foreigner does - you do not skirt / break any Thai rules or laws. 

The "computer crime" regulations / laws are strict, and especially strict on what is considered - by ANYONE that files a complaint - "obscene" material. Since he is a regular streamer from Thailand, he should know this. Other things he could have been charged with include no work permit ( he probably makes money streaming ), improper visa and etc, etc, and etc

 

American or not, learn and obey regulations and laws in ANY country you visit, stay or live in.

 

There ARE some regulations I don't like or agree with, but since Thailand allows me to live here, I will obey the regulations / rules.

Edited July 7, 2023 by edwardflory
spelling

[Pink Mist]

Numerous Troll posts have been removed as well as replies.

[cowellandrew]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

himself dressed half-naked in women’s lingerie performing a lap dance for his sexy blonde girlfriend.

Ah I see the problem here!

[Camelot]

My guess is he will fall victim to the Computer Crimes Act. The revised version seems to cover all eventualities and is open to interpretation.

I certainly hope so.

[IntheSouth]

2 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

He is risking 1 year in jail for every chromosome he is missing.

LOL!  He does look a bit like 'that', for sure...

[NorthernRyland]

He should have known better than to distribute obscene content in the sex tourism capital of the world. Some people will never learn.

[phetpeter]

He is doing it to gain more supporters and to earn more income, normally 1000 baht fine, but, for him because he has continued to defame Thailand by uploading, he has been filming without correct visa, working without a workpermit (doing work that a Thai can do). plus without a permit to film provocative content. I think it would be better to ask immigation to arrest him, fine 10000baht and escort him to the first avaiable flight to his home country and a minimum ban for 3 years. I am sick of these u-tubers and their stupid actions.

[mikeymike100]

1 hour ago, Smokey and the Bandit said:

From the article:

Understandably, netizens cried hypocrisy over the arrest pointing out the scantily clad women cavorting in bars around the Nana Plaza and Soi Cowboy areas but the police made a point of adding that he and his friends, Deepak, and Hyubsama, were arrested for “distribution of obscene content,” not indecent exposure.

Quite, but i wonder what the Thai definition of 'obscene' is?

[dinsdale]

Hopefully the new government will not be dictated to by the ultra consevative, religious right. 

Edited July 7, 2023 by dinsdale

[cxxis]

Good riddance 

[paul1804]

What a joke, the Thai police are so bloody hypocritical. Looks rather mild to me, so what if was live streaming, it doesnt look obscene to me and rather mild compared to what I have seen going on in BKK thats open to whoever wants to watch!

[Kerryd]

Making, possessing and distributing porn is a crime in Thailand regardless of what you think about their laws.

Go find a "safe place" and cry your eyes out if that's a problem for you.

Section 287 of the Thai Penal Code:
“Whoever (1) for the purpose of trade of trade or by trade, for public distribution or exhibition, makes, produces, possesses, brings or causes to be brought into the kingdom, sends or causes to be sent out of the kingdom, brings or causes to bring, or spreads by any means whatever, any document, drawing, print, painting, printed matter, picture, poster, symbol, photograph, cinematograph film, audio or video tape or any other thing which is obscene, (2) carries on trade, or takes part or participates in the trade concerning the aforesaid obscene material or thing, distributes or exhibits to the public, or hires out such material or thing; (3) in order to assist the circulation or trading of the aforesaid obscene material or thing, advertises or spreads the news by any means whatsoever that there is a person committing the act which is an offence according to this Section, or advertises or spreads the news that the aforesaid obscene material or thing may be obtained from any person or by any means, shall be punished with imprisonment not exceeding three years or fine not exceeding six thousand baht, or both.”

Bring porn into the country or making it in the country is illegal, as is sending it out (as in by mail or in luggage or electronically).
This apparently applies to things like "OnlyFans" type of sites if the "content" was created in Thailand.

And then there is the Computer Crime Act.

According to an article in the Thaiger from 2021:

• If an individual puts into a computer system where any computer data includes lewd appearance/obscenity/pornography and computer data that the general public may access under Section 14 (4) of the Computer Crime Act, shall be liable to imprisonment for not more than 5 years or a fine of not more than 100,000 baht, or both.
   
• For the purpose of trading, importing, producing, distributing pornography one shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to a fine of not exceeding 60,000 baht or to both according to the Criminal Code Section 287.
  
  There have been numerous articles on ThaiVisa over the years about people being busted for making or possessing porn in Thailand.
  
  Some people who seem to have their heads permanently positioned in their own nether regions seem to think that because there are go-go bars and prostitues in Thailand that must mean anything goes.
  
  Others have that same old lame idea that "gee, that wouldn't be a problem "back home".
  
  They still have the absurd notion that the laws from their home country somehow apply in Thailand as well.
  
  Guess again. 
  
  Some years ago there was an incident in Pattaya that really hilighted the issue.
  Some foreigner (Brit or American) hired a woman from Beach Road to let him film them having sex. I think he agreed to pay her 3,000 baht.
  
  But when they were finished he gave her only 1000 and tossed her out of the room.
  
  She got her boyfriend and went back to the room where the boyfriend proceeded to beat the crap out of the foreigner. The cops came, heard the story - and arrested the foreigner !
  Because not only did he record himself having sex with the woman (basically making a porno) - he also had other videos on his laptop of him having sex with other women.
  
  And from the news article - the woman (who had admitted to engaging in prostitution) and the "boyfriend" never got charged at all !

[bignok]

43 minutes ago, SoilSpoil said:

Obscenity? I doubt that cross dressing is obscene in Thailand, nor illegal. Better not indulge in pretend play then, as the moral police is very active here. Lol

Distribution is illegal not the act. Feel free to crossdress.

[TonyFromItaly]

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

The only obscenity committed here, is the one done by the RTP. The level of pretense, the level of fake purity, the dumb and mindless application of laws here is beyond inane. 

 

What he was doing might be considered wierd by some. But, it was so utterly harmless. Women are getting abducted, raped and trafficked at this very moment, by Thai officials, and the police are pretending to be engaged in law enforcement. I seriously hope this results in just another omelette on the face of the rather useless RTP.

I totally agree, I don't see any serious crime in this case. In Thailand they give jail time for offenses that in the West deserve only a fine... They are dangerously resembling Saudi Arabia...
Tony

[kingstonkid]

2 hours ago, pedro01 said:

He should have chosen his location more wisely. Doing this in a very nice 5 star hotel is idiotic. Doing it in Soi Cowboy wouldn't have had the police called.

 

Not that I advise wearing skimpy lingerie in trips to Soi Cowboy - but what did he expect, given the location?

Doing it in a room quietly and not saying where you are probably would have been ok

 

Making noise and letting people know where was stupid.

[geisha]

If he was charged with lewd and obscene behavior ( in a private hotel room) , then obviously the police haven’t been to Patpong in the last 50 years, or Bangla road ! Was he naked, didn’t look like in the photo ? Tourists take photos like that in Thailand on the road in Bangla to send to their mates or FB . If it was for scamming, then it wasn’t  in the charge. The van driver who attacked a tourist with an iron bar ( on video) got a thousand Baht fine  !! Laws are laws maybe, then he should have been deported and banned. 

[ChipButty]

When he tops himself will be allowed to live stream it? 

[ukrules]

4 hours ago, SoilSpoil said:

Which laws did he break?

He annoyed a hotel manager.

[Tom H]

If an individual puts into a computer system where any computer data includes lewd appearance/obscenity/pornography and computer data that the general public may access under Section 14 (4) of the Computer Crime Act, shall be liable to imprisonment for not more than 5 years or a fine of not more than 100,000 baht, or both

 

 

Lawyer will cost him 80,000 USD minimum, on bail free for 12,000 USD, additional expense until court opens the case (hotel etc).

 

Black listed for 10 y.

 

Then a second trial can pop up.

The hotel against him.

 

Defamation! 

That will cost him a fortune.

 

[Shocked farang]

3 hours ago, sqwakvfr said:

Based upon professional most who threaten to commit suicide rarely go through with it.  It's the quiet ones who usually carry things out into the great unknown.  

 

He will not get much sympathy or empathy from anyone (from Thai or Foreigner).  

He has my full sympathy as I have watched enough content on the terrible, I mean really terrible conditions inside a Thai prison and this fellow wasn't hurting anyone, he was just having fun! 

[ujayujay]

4 hours ago, SoilSpoil said:

Which laws did he break?

Are you intellectually incapable of reading a simple report?

[chuang]

Jdil him.

[Liverpool Lou]

4 hours ago, bamboozled said:

Like the Chinese woman showing her butt in the songtaew.

She could be charged also, if she is located, what she did contravened Thai laws.

[Liverpool Lou]

2 hours ago, gerard koppenhol said:

Som nom na. And what is 5 years. There are people who get 20 years for doing nothing 

Such as?

[Liverpool Lou]

2 hours ago, redwood1 said:

Whats next......Girls dancing completely naked on stage in bars in Thailand.... 

In designated entertainment zones, not in up-market private hotels/restaurants and not livestreamed.

[Liverpool Lou]

2 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

A lot of people do not see it as utterly harmless. 

Exactly.  The owners of the hotel that has a reputation to uphold, for instance.

[SoilSpoil]

9 minutes ago, ujayujay said:

Are you intellectually incapable of reading a simple report?

Bit insulting, don't you think? I think I am capable of many things, except understanding Thailand or Thai logic of course.

 

[h90]

51 minutes ago, TonyFromItaly said:

I totally agree, I don't see any serious crime in this case. In Thailand they give jail time for offenses that in the West deserve only a fine... They are dangerously resembling Saudi Arabia...
Tony

A while ago when my father went to Saudi Arabia, he had to sign that he understand and agree that there is the death penalty on narcotics and that alcohol is a narcotic....
And they kill quite a lot people in SA. So I would rather stay in Thailand

[Liverpool Lou]

2 hours ago, HuaHinHim said:

I don’t agree with the punishment but you’re not in the US so that’s on you buddy. 

What punishment?  He hasn't even been to court yet.

[Liverpool Lou]

2 hours ago, bignok said:

If you video a ladyboy walking on the street is that obscene?

Why should it be if that's all you're doing.  He wasn't videoing LBs on the street, he was abusing the facilities of the private hotel/restaurant and livestreaming it.