‘Take care with Net libel laws’

BANGKOK: -- Any new legislation to curb slander and rumour-mongering on the Internet must be carefully considered, Prime Minister’s Office Minister Suranand Vejjajiva said yesterday.

Suranand said Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra had instructed him to look into ways of curbing slander on websites. The Information and Com-munications Technology Minis-try is considering the matter, he said.

The government believes the freewheeling use of slander on the Internet has caused much damage to many people, he added.

Using legal procedures to tackle the problem would take time and risk exposing the government to charges of political interference even if there was a legitimate need for it, Suranand said.

Recent months have also seen much criticism of the government expressed on the Internet.

At the moment, said Sura-nand, there was no clear legal precedent but the ICT Ministry will see to it that a raft of legislation is proposed aimed at tackling both rumours and slanderous criticism.

--The Nation 2006-01-03

Next, TRT will be targetting the spread of rumours and "slander" on the streets, within taxis, and then in the future (when technology permits), within our brains.

For those of you who like TV, such as myself, should we be concerned? I think YES... until the next elections.

Be kind and gentle to TRT... there is no need to criticize them. They already do a fine job on their own.

Next, TRT will be targetting the spread of rumours and "slander" on the streets, within taxis, and then in the future (when technology permits), within our brains.

For those of you who like TV, such as myself, should we be concerned?  I think YES... until the next elections.

Be kind and gentle to TRT... there is no need to criticize them.  They already do a fine job on their own.

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Another sad development.

The best minds are not in government. If any were, business would hire them away.

Luv this!

The government believes the freewheeling use of slander on the Internet has caused much damage to many people, he added.

Edited January 3, 200620 yr by ilyushin

Recent months have also seen much criticism of the government expressed on the Internet.

I think this says it all.....

sweeping problems under the carpet springs to mind.

out of sight out of mind

Not an unexpected development for fearless leader!!! I see the warm/fuzzy I'll accept criticism has faded from memory.

looks like Thaksin has been reading TV, watch out George, Big Brother's after you

Edited January 3, 200620 yr by phuketsiam

looks like Thaksin has been reading TV, watch out George, Big Brother's after you

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phuketsiam is right George, I have nothing to say about mr T, I think he's doing a great job of ruining LOS, sorry I meant running

The best minds are not in government. If any were, business would hire them away.

Luv this!

The government believes the freewheeling use of slander on the Internet has caused much damage to many people, he added.

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ilyushin-

IL-76 = What an aircraft !

January 1st brought in a new law to the UK where you can be arretsed just for dropping litter. Governments are becoming paranoid the World over.

Beware the thought police :- http://thesquire.blogspot.com/

This is worrying ?:- http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2092-1937539,00.html

Or if you are a Farang in Thailand beware the Fashion Police !

Edited January 3, 200620 yr by Hermano Lobo

Only people who have done something wrong hide behind Libel laws.

It cannot be slander on a medium like the internet.

Just get on with life and government.........

If you are doing a good job the bad press will be ignored.

I will forward this article to my pal in London. I can see it now, Toxin inviting LG back to Thailand as a consultant on Internet libel. Now that would be a meeting worth recording for posterity!

1984

Thailand, hub of Internet libel.

1984

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Exactly ! Read this book by Orwell - Read it again !

This is how the World is developing !

So long as we keep to sarcasm and irony we will be safe. I have noticed a lack of understanding of these forms of communication amongst many thai.

Trouble is if we use too much irony the yanks will feel left out too.

The government believes the freewheeling use of slander on the Internet has caused much damage to many people, he added.

--The Nation 2006-01-03

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Yes, it has mainly damaged those in the government.....

So I hope that Gary Glitter, who has not been convicted of any Asian offence, is not getting his lawyers aroused by pointing them at the internet.

<I'm referring to internet Forums, not....oh, well, never mind>

So long as we keep to sarcasm and irony we will be safe. I have noticed a lack of understanding of these forms of communication amongst many thai.

Trouble is if we use too much irony the yanks will feel left out too.

So true but so cutting Chaang_paarp, isn't it ironic don't you think ?

Only people who have done something wrong hide behind Libel laws.

It cannot be slander on a medium like the internet.

Just get on with life and government.........

If you are doing a good job the bad press will be ignored.

Yes, Khun Suranand seems to have the correct grasp of law to look into internet defamation

Perhaps we could hear a statement on why defamation in Thailand is a criminal offence under Section 328 of the Penal code whilst in total contravention of Article 39 of the Constitution regarding freedom of speech.

And the Constitutional Court would determine the matter