Thai Clamp-Down On Internet Traffic Worries Global Companies

[webfact]

Thai Clamp-Down on Internet Traffic Worries Global Companies

By JAMES HOOKWAY

BANGKOK: -- Global companies are growing increasingly worried that Thailand's recent clamp-down on Internet traffic might drag down the country's economic potential and make it more difficult to expand there.

Internet monitoring laws, introduced four years ago, were designed to root out online fraud and boost e-commerce in this tropical Buddhist kingdom. Instead, critics say, the legislation is being used to police the Web for political content, which in turn is starting to alarm investors, including a key industry group comprising global names such as Google Inc., Yahoo Inc. andeBay Inc., many of which now operate here.

The Internet has already had a big impact in Thailand, which is Southeast Asia's second-largest economy and a major hub for multinational investors. While Thais can do anything from buy groceries to ordering pizzas online, many have also taken to the Web to weigh in on the country's coups, riots and other political upheavals.

Some, Thai authorities say, overstep the line and break the country's strict laws prohibiting criticism of 83-year-old monarch King Bhumibol Adulyadej and his family. There's been an explosion in prosecutions in recent years, undermining the country's democratic credentials, analysts and free-speech activists say.

The Internet industry, though, is more worried about a case involving local webmaster Chiranuch Premchaiporn. Ms. Chiranuch, 44 years old, is currently on trial for allegedly violating Thailand's Computer-Related Offenses Act by being too slow to delete anti-royal messages at a popular Web forum she runs. She faces 20 years in prison if she is convicted, and denies the charges against her.

Now other businesses fear they, too, could fall under the whip, chilling the growth of online commerce in Thailand.

"By holding an intermediary liable for the actions of its users, this case could set a dangerous precedent and have a significant long-term impact on Thailand's economy," the Asia Internet Coalition said in a statement released this month. The Hong Kong-based group was founded last year by eBay, Google, Nokia Corp., Microsoft Corp. unit Skype, and Yahoo to lobby on Internet policy issues around Asia, such as Thailand's computer crimes law.

"Changing the way the Internet works in Thailand by denying intermediaries the protections they are granted in most countries around the world could have a significant detrimental impact," the group said, without quantifying the economic toll of the stringent laws. The member companies declined to comment beyond the content of the coalition's statement.

Songkran Taechanrong, spokesman at the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology, defended the use of the law and downplayed its economic costs. In fact, he said, it "defends against criminal activity such as credit card fraud, and this helps promote online business."

Thailand's complex relationship with the Internet is mirrored across other parts of Asia as governments look for ways to cope with more and more people going online. As broadband connections and mobile Internet services spread, countries such as Vietnam and China frequently block access to social network sites such as Facebook Inc.'s flagship site and the Twitter micro-blogging site.

The former U.S. ambassador to Hanoi, Michael Michalak, warned in 2009 that restricting Facebook could disrupt mushrooming business ties between business people in Vietnam and the U.S. Other countries, such as Malaysia, take a different approach by leaving the Internet untouched but invoking other sedition laws to regulate what happens online.

Thailand, though, has struggled more than most to come to grips with the impact of the Internet. Once a beacon for democracy in Southeast Asia and one of the United States' oldest treaty allies, Thailand in recent years has seen decades of economic change trigger a wave of political unrest.

The success of populist politicians such as former leader Thaksin Shinawatra and his youngest sister, current premier Yingluck Shinawatra, has increased tensions in a country where military leaders and royalist civil servants traditionally have held sway. Both sides have used the Internet to win hearts and minds as they debate what Thailand should be in the 21st century.

Analysts say the country's political and military leaders are competing to demonstrate loyalty to King Bhumibol by prosecuting people who allegedly post critical comments online, even though the king himself has said Thais should be able to discuss the role of the monarchy without fear of arrest.

The country's Attorney General's office sent 36 so-called lese majeste cases to prosecutors last year—double the number sent to court in 2005.

One former government official, Jakrapob Penkair, fled the country to avoid prosecution under the law while a Thai-born American man, Joe Gordon, has been charged for, among other things, posting a link to a banned biography of King Bhumibol on his blog. He denies the charges.

Some 75,000 websites were blocked last year, meanwhile, 57,000 of them for containing material considered disrespectful to the monarchy, according to i-Law, a local group which monitors Internet censorship in Thailand. In 2007, when Thailand's dragnet really ramped up, officials even blocked YouTube after some users posted videos making fun of King Bhumibol.

The number of people accused of violating the Computer-Related Offenses Act by allegedly using the Internet to spread anti-monarchy sentiments is stacking up, too.

In addition to Ms. Chiranuch, police last week arrested local computer programmer Surapak Phuchaisaeng for posting allegedly defamatory comments about the monarchy on his Facebook page. Mr. Surapak, who has not been charged, denies insulting King Bhumibol.

"There's a real sense among people that they are being watched, and it's changing the way people look at the Internet," said Tyrell Haberkorn, a research fellow at The Australian National University in Canberra who closely follows Internet issues in Southeast Asia.

Ms. Yingluck's recently elected populist government is stepping up prosecutions under the country's lese majeste and computer crimes laws. Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubumrung is heading up a new 40-member "war-room" to monitor anti-royal messages conveyed over the Internet. Government officials are also training online vigilantes to call foul on any disrespectful comments they find while surfing the Web—a move that could leave other webmasters or Internet-based companies in hot water and also increase the cost of doing business here, analysts say.

Among other things, Thailand's Computer-Related Offenses Act requires companies to collect and store computer traffic for 90 days. "The hardware and software required to store all computer traffic would be extremely costly," says Sawatree Suksri, a professor of Internet and media law at Bangkok's Thammasat University.

Some chambers of commerce here hold private briefing sessions about the risks involved in conducting any kind of online business here.

"It's deeply ironic that a law whose stated aim is to create stable e-commerce environment is achieving completely the opposite result," said Ms. Haberkorn, the Australia-based professor.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903532804576568534267649452.html

-- THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 2011-09-15

[JurgenG]

Everything that is noted in the article are consequences of the action of the previous government. We were quietly heading to a North Korean style democracy whatever the yellow apologists were saying. All the alarming figures for freedom on speech over the internet are from last year, when the puppet government of Mr Abhisit was in place.

There is a cheap shot at the current government but being in place for less than one month, there isn't much they can be responsible of. We should also be reminded that the witch hunt on critical comments about the institutions are done because of the repeated demand of the current opposition. It's Mr Abhisit and his yellow friends who repeatly accuse the government of being too soft with the Monarchy opponents, leading to more internet and freedom of speech repression.

But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Mr Thaksin has always been an astute business man, dedicated to the economical development of his country. We can be sure that what could be an obstacle to free trade will be deal with promptly.

Edited September 15, 2011 by JurgenG

[hyperdimension]

But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Mr Thaksin has always been an astute business man, dedicated to the economical development of his country. We can be sure that what could be an obstacle to free trade will be deal with promptly.

Did you actually read the article in full, in particular this part?:

Ms. Yingluck's recently elected populist government is stepping up prosecutions under the country's lese majeste and computer crimes laws. Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubumrung is heading up a new 40-member "war-room" to monitor anti-royal messages conveyed over the Internet. Government officials are also training online vigilantes to call foul on any disrespectful comments they find while surfing the Web—a move that could leave other webmasters or Internet-based companies in hot water and also increase the cost of doing business here, analysts say.

So Thaksin will promote free speech, will he?

[siampolee]

Ms. Yingluck's recently elected populist government is stepping up prosecutions under the country's lese majeste and computer crimes laws. Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubumrung is heading up a new 40-member "war-room" to monitor anti-royal messages conveyed over the Internet. Government officials are also training online vigilantes to call foul on any disrespectful comments they find while surfing the Web—a move that could leave other webmasters or Internet-based companies in hot water and also increase the cost of doing business here, analysts say.

Rather defeats your stance does it not JurgenG

All much the same as it was when Brother No. was in power before, Pity you've little experience of living in Thailand you might understand the true aim of Brother No.1.

Mr Thaksin has always been an astute business man, dedicated to the economical development of his country.

I larf, I larf, I pee I self

Sure sign it's a full moon as your post # 1 so plainly demonstrates.

Edited September 15, 2011 by metisdead
Do not modify someone else's post in your quoted reply, either with font or color changes.

[hammered]

Lets see how the freedom of expression indices go for this government. Ceratinly it dropped from 107 (2005 Thaksin) to 153 (2010 Abhisit) under reporters without borders measure. It would be nice to see a rebound

[scorecard]

Everything that is noted in the article are consequences of the action of the previous government. We were quietly heading to a North Korean style democracy whatever the yellow apologists were saying. All the alarming figures for freedom on speech over the internet are from last year, when the puppet government of Mr Abhisit was in place.

There is a cheap shot at the current government but being in place for less than one month, there isn't much they can be responsible of. We should also be reminded that the witch hunt on critical comments about the institutions are done because of the repeated demand of the current opposition. It's Mr Abhisit and his yellow friends who repeatly accuse the government of being too soft with the Monarchy opponents, leading to more internet and freedom of speech repression.

But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Mr Thaksin has always been an astute business man, dedicated to the economical development of his country. We can be sure that what could be an obstacle to free trade will be deal with promptly.

You said: "But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Mr Thaksin has always been an astute business man, dedicated to the economical development of his country. We can be sure that what could be an obstacle to free trade will be deal with promptly. "

Suggest you do your research more thoroughly and accept the realities that it will reveal. The reality is nothing like what you wrote!

Edited September 15, 2011 by scorecard

[JurgenG]

But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Mr Thaksin has always been an astute business man, dedicated to the economical development of his country. We can be sure that what could be an obstacle to free trade will be deal with promptly.

Did you actually read the article in full, in particular this part?:

Ms. Yingluck's recently elected populist government is stepping up prosecutions under the country's lese majeste and computer crimes laws. Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubumrung is heading up a new 40-member "war-room" to monitor anti-royal messages conveyed over the Internet. Government officials are also training online vigilantes to call foul on any disrespectful comments they find while surfing the Web—a move that could leave other webmasters or Internet-based companies in hot water and also increase the cost of doing business here, analysts say.

So Thaksin will promote free speech, will he?

Have you read my post ? I repeat :

All the alarming figures for freedom on speech over the internet are from last year, when the puppet government of Mr Abhisit was in place.

We should also be reminded that the witch hunt on critical comments about the institutions are done because of the repeated demand of the current opposition. It's Mr Abhisit and his yellow friends who repeatly accuse the government of being too soft with the Monarchy opponents, leading to more internet and freedom of speech repression.

For the last part, a quick search in the "news" section of this forum would prove my point.

I don't remember any of you complaining when Mr Abhisit and his friend were putting in place the big brother system the author of the article talk about (please feel free to point me to your past posts and I will apologize).

The word of the day is : hypocrisy.

From Wiki : Hypocrisy is the act of pretending to have beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that one does not actually have. Hypocrisy involves the deception of others and is thus a kind of lie.

[Nisa]

"There's a real sense among people that they are being watched, and it's changing the way people look at the Internet," said Tyrell Haberkorn, a research fellow at The Australian National University in Canberra who closely follows Internet issues in Southeast Asia.

You mean to tell me what we post on the internet isn't private?

Seriously, I am all for freedom of speech but at the same time, every country limits this speech. Posting derogatory or untruthful messages about the monarchy is no different than posting pornography or child porn other places (both defined differently in different places around the world). If you are going to run a website where people can express views, you should have some responsibility to reasonably monitor these posting to make sure people are not using your site to break the law. Not all that different than a club making sure people are not using their place to deal or use drugs.

Again, I am all for freedom of speech but one must obey the laws in respected countries be in the internet or anywhere else.

[JurgenG]

All much the same as it was when Brother No. was in power before, Pity you've little experience of living in Thailand you might understand the true aim of Brother No.1.

I finished paying the 10 years mortgage on my Bangkok house two years ago.

How long have you been here ?

[scorecard]

But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Mr Thaksin has always been an astute business man, dedicated to the economical development of his country. We can be sure that what could be an obstacle to free trade will be deal with promptly.

Did you actually read the article in full, in particular this part?:

Ms. Yingluck's recently elected populist government is stepping up prosecutions under the country's lese majeste and computer crimes laws. Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubumrung is heading up a new 40-member "war-room" to monitor anti-royal messages conveyed over the Internet. Government officials are also training online vigilantes to call foul on any disrespectful comments they find while surfing the Web—a move that could leave other webmasters or Internet-based companies in hot water and also increase the cost of doing business here, analysts say.

So Thaksin will promote free speech, will he?

And chalerm will promote free speech, will he?

[DP25]

This country is entering a dark time. Thaksin would never have allowed what was published in the various red magazines week after week about Abhisit to have been written about him, no way will they allow a similar freedom for anti Thaksin groups to publish the same type of stuff. Of course we won't be having the red organizations screaming about the les majeste stuff anymore so the press ranking will probably rise through ignorance of the situation, while in reality press freedom will certainly plummet. Already we're seeing threats and intimidation towards the media from Thaksin's mob, this will continue and those who defy them will likely have violence inflicted upon them.

[rubl]

Lets see how the freedom of expression indices go for this government. Ceratinly it dropped from 107 (2005 Thaksin) to 153 (2010 Abhisit) under reporters without borders measure. It would be nice to see a rebound

As long as there are no violent clashes with reporters running around and getting shot, Thailand will move up again. Nothing to be with real openness though.

As for internet censureship, there is a global tendency to monitor and censure. The recent violence in Britain had at least a few arrested for 'rabble rousing' and related 'hate speeches'. Very similar to the PTV broadcasts of the Rathaprasong stage speeches by peaceful UDD leaders, lots of them now Pheu Thai MPs. The computer crime act is just as worrying as the LM laws. Maybe even more so with some friendly red-shirt government advisors watching. I'm almost afraid to write down here I'm wearing a pink shirt today

[Thaddeus]

All much the same as it was when Brother No. was in power before, Pity you've little experience of living in Thailand you might understand the true aim of Brother No.1.

I finished paying the 10 years mortgage on my Bangkok house two years ago.

But, have you ever stepped outside the front door.

[JurgenG]

This country is entering a dark time. Thaksin would never have allowed what was published in the various red magazines week after week about Abhisit to have been written about him, no way will they allow a similar freedom for anti Thaksin groups to publish the same type of stuff. Of course we won't be having the red organizations screaming about the les majeste stuff anymore so the press ranking will probably rise through ignorance of the situation, while in reality press freedom will certainly plummet. Already we're seeing threats and intimidation towards the media from Thaksin's mob, this will continue and those who defy them will likely have violence inflicted upon them.

Incredible !

All the abuses against freedom of speech the article discribes have been committed during the Abhisit administration.

But you still manage to blame Thaksin for some hypothetical crimes that have never happent.

And if the situation improves during the PT administration, it's only because people are too ignorant and too stupid to realize that it had actually deteriorated.

My god, I'm sur the doctor Freud would have loved to meet you

[scotbeve]

Everything that is noted in the article are consequences of the action of the previous government. We were quietly heading to a North Korean style democracy whatever the yellow apologists were saying. All the alarming figures for freedom on speech over the internet are from last year, when the puppet government of Mr Abhisit was in place.

There is a cheap shot at the current government but being in place for less than one month, there isn't much they can be responsible of. We should also be reminded that the witch hunt on critical comments about the institutions are done because of the repeated demand of the current opposition. It's Mr Abhisit and his yellow friends who repeatly accuse the government of being too soft with the Monarchy opponents, leading to more internet and freedom of speech repression.

But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Mr Thaksin has always been an astute business man, dedicated to the economical development of his country. We can be sure that what could be an obstacle to free trade will be deal with promptly.

Well spotted and said Jurgen.

[rubl]

Government officials are also training online vigilantes to call foul on any disrespectful comments they find while surfing the Web—a move that could leave other webmasters or Internet-based companies in hot water and also increase the cost of doing business here, analysts say.

Red-shirt government advisors are also on the alert, especially after all those nasty questions to PM Yingluck. Reminds me of an American lady:

"We needed to have the press be our friend ... We wanted them to ask the questions we want to answer so that they report the news the way we want it to be reported."

--Sharron Angle, during an interview with Fox News Channel's Carl Cameron, Aug. 2, 2010

Edited September 15, 2011 by rubl

[rubl]

Everything that is noted in the article are consequences of the action of the previous government. We were quietly heading to a North Korean style democracy whatever the yellow apologists were saying. All the alarming figures for freedom on speech over the internet are from last year, when the puppet government of Mr Abhisit was in place.

...

Everything will be rosy and all be rich in six months now that we have the Thaksin clone government with red-shirt guards in place

The problem with the quoted text and my reply is that such type of statements don't really say anything (apart from suggestions about the writer's inclination), and for sure do nothing to help solve problems. First step would be to lower the level of propaganda on both sides.

Free and probably unwanted advise from your local Dutch uncle

[toffo9]

Lets face it Thailand is not a free speech country is it.. You only have to look at thaivisa to see posts removed to know that we cant say what we want unlike other western countries...I fully understand owning a website and being worried about what members are saying knowing you get arrested being the owner..

[Thai at Heart]

It would be smarter if the government realised that in this day and age it is largely impossible to stop people saying what they think, so it is largely pointless to try. China tries, and they spend an enormous amount of time and effort to achieve it, and lo and behold, in the last month, all of my colleagues from the China office now have working Facebook accounts via proxies.

The problem with surpressing opinion, is that it essentially like the little dutch boy with his thumb in the dyke (I don't know why a scene from a bar in Pattaya came to my mind when I wrote that). Eventually you run out of thumbs, and the you get engulfed. Surpressing this stuff is not helping anything at all.

[ralphlsasser]

But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Mr Thaksin has always been an astute business man, dedicated to the economical development of his country. We can be sure that what could be an obstacle to free trade will be deal with promptly.

Did you actually read the article in full, in particular this part?:

Ms. Yingluck's recently elected populist government is stepping up prosecutions under the country's lese majeste and computer crimes laws. Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubumrung is heading up a new 40-member "war-room" to monitor anti-royal messages conveyed over the Internet. Government officials are also training online vigilantes to call foul on any disrespectful comments they find while surfing the Web—a move that could leave other webmasters or Internet-based companies in hot water and also increase the cost of doing business here, analysts say.

So Thaksin will promote free speech, will he?

There is no free speach in Thailand.

[ralphlsasser]

Opressing free speach has been tried many times by many countries. It has never worked and will not work here either. The word will get out one way or the other.

[peterdk]

It not only worries big companies - it worries me too ;-p

Anyway - how annoying is it, that seemingly innocent website gets axed by mict ever so often.

Once a Danish online newspaper was down for a couple of weeks.

Weird that. And even more weird - it got unblocked again.

On a side note - who watches the watchers ?

Edited September 15, 2011 by peterdk

[rubl]

Robert A. is also for free, frank and especially truthful reporting

"2011-09-03

Thai Media’s Moral Posturing and the Manufacturing of Myths

The recent incident of Channel 7 reporter Somjit Nawakruasunthorn being allegedly harassed by a small number of red shirts, who, upset with what they perceived as biased coverage, called for her dismissal. This incident is deeply unfortunate, and I along with most Red Shirts fully support Ms. Somjit’s right to free expression, and the rights of all Thai journalists to ask any question to anyone, and publish these ideas without fear of harassment, intimidation, or, in certain cases, arrest. But to hear these same voices that held silent as snipers picked off protesters, and while fellow journalists were thrown in prison following groundless lese majeste show trials, is beyond ridiculous.

...

But the more the Democrats delve into these misguided obsessions of Thaksin instead of the wellbeing of the Thai people, the quicker they engineer their own irrelevance."

http://robertamsterdam.com/thailand/?p=940

The last sentence ending the article could very well have 'Dems' replaced by 'current government' and lots of people would all of a sudden agree with Robert A.

Edited September 15, 2011 by rubl

[jonclark]

But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Mr Thaksin has always been an astute business man, dedicated to the economical development of his country. .

Dude I think you're in love !!!

[siampolee]

JurgenG # 9

I finished paying the 10 years mortgage on my Bangkok house two years ago.

How long have you been here ?

Just coming into my twenty first year here, with some ten years previous history of visits.

We have a small road haulage business and a farm ( 400rai ) plus a couple of houses all paid for . A great wife from Surin, and three great boys.

My wife like her family and the rest of the villagers in the area despise Thaksin and his corrupt practices.

Please do not try to patronize people like your idol does it isn't working I assure you.

And your point was?

[siampolee]

THAKSIN Shinawatra tried to make the most out of the hard-sought good light in Cambodia when he met Sivarak Chutipong, who was released from prison yesterday after a month-long captivity. Together with his mother, Sivarak – the victim of a cheap plot to embarrass Thailand and favour Thaksin – showed little emotion when he met the friend of his late father.

Thaksin appeared patriarchal and patronising when he faced Sivarak, whose father was a former partner in movie production with the fugitive ex-premier. The two had shared ups and downs and a debt load due to poor results in the movie world.

BP: You are probably thinking, Thaksin in the movie business? Pasuk and Baker mention this in their book about Thaksin. Simply, he bought up a few cinemas for a while (his dad had owned one), run them and lost a lost of money and had 200 million baht in debts. He later was in movie distribution in 1987, but from all accounts this was for a short time and in 1988 he had moved on.

http://asiancorrespondent.com

Mr Thaksin has always been an astute business man, dedicated to the economical development of his country. We can be sure that what could be an obstacle to free trade will be deal with promptly.

A wonderful comment on the achievements of an astute businessman.

[mca]

Once a beacon for democracy in Southeast Asia

[tlansford]

But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Mr Thaksin has always been an astute business man, dedicated to the economical development of his country. We can be sure that what could be an obstacle to free trade will be deal with promptly.

Did you actually read the article in full, in particular this part?:

Ms. Yingluck's recently elected populist government is stepping up prosecutions under the country's lese majeste and computer crimes laws. Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubumrung is heading up a new 40-member "war-room" to monitor anti-royal messages conveyed over the Internet. Government officials are also training online vigilantes to call foul on any disrespectful comments they find while surfing the Web—a move that could leave other webmasters or Internet-based companies in hot water and also increase the cost of doing business here, analysts say.

So Thaksin will promote free speech, will he?

It would be very good for Thailand if this gov't did not use the LM l& computer crime laws as a political tool as has been done in the past. At this point it is still speculation as to what the purpose of their war room for LM infractions really is about, since what counts are their actions with it. The best case scenario is that the current government wants to look very patriotic, and can prove their credentials with LM enforcement. The worst case scenario is that they understand that it can (continue to) be a powerful weapon of the gov't against it's opponents. That is how it has often been used for the last 5 years, and that would be a sad gift of the coup to Thailand if the Computer Crime and LM laws were to continue like that.

[tlansford]

Lets see how the freedom of expression indices go for this government. Ceratinly it dropped from 107 (2005 Thaksin) to 153 (2010 Abhisit) under reporters without borders measure. It would be nice to see a rebound

Agreed.

there are tools for measuring that are more consistent and more objective than TVF...

[tlansford]

JurgenG # 9

I finished paying the 10 years mortgage on my Bangkok house two years ago.

How long have you been here ?

Just coming into my twenty first year here, with some ten years previous history of visits.

We have a small road haulage business and a farm ( 400rai ) plus a couple of houses all paid for . A great wife from Surin, and three great boys.

My wife like her family and the rest of the villagers in the area despise Thaksin and his corrupt practices.

Please do not try to patronize people like your idol does it isn't working I assure you.

And your point was?

Whoah, nice pissing contest ... but take it easy as it was clearly you who fired the trigger on this one...