Thai Internet 'not free': Freedom House

Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thailand is ranked along with 10 other nations as "not free" when it comes to the Internet, according to a new survey by the US-based Freedom House.

The ranking by the democracy and human-rights advocacy group places Thailand alongside such countries as Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan and Belarus.

In Thailand, Freedom House cited the blocking of political websites, pro-government commentators dominating online discussions, increasing surveillance or restrictions on online anonymity, arrests of bloggers and Internet users for posting on political and social issues, and technical attacks against government critics.

Cases highlighted in the report include people arrested and detained under the lese majeste law and the Computer Crimes Act. Among them is computer programmer Surapak Phuchaisaeng, who has been detained since September 2011 after being accused of being behind a defamatory Facebook account and is now awaiting his verdict.

In the region, Indonesia ranks ahead of Thailand as being partly free.

Estonia was ranked as enjoying the greatest freedom of expression on the Web, followed by the US.

Tunisia and Myanmar showed the most improvement over previous surveys.

China, Cuba and Iran are the three countries with the most-restricted Internet.

China continues to have one of the world's most-advanced Internet control systems, with measures that include filtering technology and hacking. Freedom House believes that China is moving close to establishing a "national Internet".

In Iran, violation of the Internet law is punishable by death, and three bloggers and IT professionals have been sentenced to death.

In Asia, with 43 countries and territories that are home to 3.9 billion people, 44 per cent of the Internet is free while only five per cent of the press is free, the report states.

In general, paid commentators and hijacking attacks are proliferating, the report states. Government critics also face politically motivated cyber attack in 19 out of the 47 countries surveyed.

However, the report did note a "significant uptick" in civic activism on the Internet.

-- The Nation 2012-09-28

Stating the obvious - hardly news worthy!

This is a very noteworthy point. Essentially in Thailand there is no information freedom. The press is the botom, TV is somewhere near the bottom, and the Internet censorship is a sham. University students are regularly closed out of doing any kind of objective research, and we had to constantly modify objectives because of lack of access to information on the Internet and censorship. This was particularly disturbing when by traveling to Cambodia it was possible to gain access to the censored web sites in Thailand.

As usual government holdig back the nation development until after they have made a profit off of it. Are there any red shirt sources of information being monitored and closed down or charged with LM laws?

Edited September 28, 201213 yr by hellodolly

Oh really???

Thailand is not a free and democratic country and society. The restriction of freedom on the internet is the continuination of the limitations which are in place for press and TV for decades. Sometimes it reminds me of "1984". But it is getting harder for the censor to manipulate the truth and that is a very positive development.

Edited September 28, 201213 yr by hanuman2543

Here is the list and a chart showing the various repressive tactics used by each regime country.

http://www.freedomhouse.org/sites/default/files/resources/3-Internet%20controls%20chart-FINAL.pdf

Seems to go hand in hand with the extent a culture employs indoctrination rather than education. And a good predictor of failed states IMO.

Here is the list and a chart showing the various repressive tactics used by each regime country.

http://www.freedomho...chart-FINAL.pdf

Seems to go hand in hand with the extent a culture employs indoctrination rather than education. And a good predictor of failed states IMO.

Gosh, Thailand is only using 6 of the 9 listed tactics....which means they still have 3 more tactics they can use...maybe the govt will save those to when they really need to repress information crossfeed.

Shocking !

What is the ranking of the US in this "survey" ?

(can't possibly be very high)

Shocking !

What is the ranking of the US in this "survey" ?

(can't possibly be very high)

From the OP - "Estonia was ranked as enjoying the greatest freedom of expression on the Web, followed by the US."

Now this is Thai democracy at work, nearly, but not quiet on the same level as China.

Shocking !

What is the ranking of the US in this "survey" ?

(can't possibly be very high)

Geez read the thread in the first two or three paragraphs

Shocking !

What is the ranking of the US in this "survey" ?

(can't possibly be very high)

Truly Shocking!

I don`t think placing restrictions on what can be and cannot be published in the public domain is a bad thing.

I personally believe that those with extreme racist opinions, or who denigrate the leaderships of their own countries and of other countries, or that defame private individuals should not be given free public platforms or a means to air they’re views.

Censorship is required on the Internet, similar to that which has been established with other forms of media and the same laws should apply. There is a world of difference between free speech and which could be considered as anarchy.

I have never agreed with the totally permissive society because there are certain groups and persons that do not know when to draw the line. Probably why I love living in Thailand so much, because it teaches and imposes certain respects for authority and private individuals although still permitting relative freedoms within the country.

Edited September 28, 201213 yr by Beetlejuice

I don`t think placing restrictions on what can be and cannot be published in the public domain is a bad thing.

I personally believe that those with extreme racist opinions, or who denigrate the leaderships of their own countries and of other countries, or that defame private individuals should not be given free public platforms or a means to air they’re views.

Censorship is required on the Internet, similar to that which has been established with other forms of media and the same laws should apply. There is a world of difference between free speech and which could be considered as anarchy.

I have never agreed with the totally permissive society because there are certain groups and persons that do not know when to draw the line. Probably why I love living in Thailand so much, because it teaches and imposes certain respects for authority and private individuals although still permitting relative freedoms within the country.

Yes and that's exactly why we are not informed about aliens.

Thai Internet 'not free'

No shit Sherlock . . .

Stating the obvious - hardly news worthy!

really, i thought it was quite interesting. at least we are better off here than Iran.

Yes and that's exactly why we are not informed about aliens.

Aliens have landed!?!?!? I must have missed that one . . . oh, it was probably censored . . .

China's internet is locked down so much that it is almost a national intranet

freedom is like a drug, moderated and dosed proper, it is functional, but abused and exploited and it infringes on oneself and others!

Well, we're talking about it here freely. For now.

I don`t think placing restrictions on what can be and cannot be published in the public domain is a bad thing.

I personally believe that those with extreme racist opinions, or who denigrate the leaderships of their own countries and of other countries, or that defame private individuals should not be given free public platforms or a means to air they’re views.

Censorship is required on the Internet, similar to that which has been established with other forms of media and the same laws should apply. There is a world of difference between free speech and which could be considered as anarchy.

I have never agreed with the totally permissive society because there are certain groups and persons that do not know when to draw the line. Probably why I love living in Thailand so much, because it teaches and imposes certain respects for authority and private individuals although still permitting relative freedoms within the country.

Spoken like a good sheep.

freedom is like a drug, moderated and dosed proper, it is functional, but abused and exploited and it infringes on oneself and others!

Sheep, second in line. How's the view?

Stating the obvious - hardly news worthy!

Good to be reminded were we are.

I don`t think placing restrictions on what can be and cannot be published in the public domain is a bad thing.

I personally believe that those with extreme racist opinions, or who denigrate the leaderships of their own countries and of other countries, or that defame private individuals should not be given free public platforms or a means to air they’re views.

Censorship is required on the Internet, similar to that which has been established with other forms of media and the same laws should apply. There is a world of difference between free speech and which could be considered as anarchy.

I have never agreed with the totally permissive society because there are certain groups and persons that do not know when to draw the line. Probably why I love living in Thailand so much, because it teaches and imposes certain respects for authority and private individuals although still permitting relative freedoms within the country.

completely disagree, I will judge for myself rather than have it done for me, if I don't like something written or spoken on the web or anywhere else for that matter then I will form my own opinion not have it done for me. When you're out socialising would you prefer to have someone adjudicate every interaction you have with every person - I think not

I fail to see how this has anything to do with anybody but Thailand and its people. More US nose butting and finger pointing.

I've been able to visit every website that I've ever wanted. What sort of websites are you guys trying to get onto that is blocked?

I fail to see how this has anything to do with anybody but Thailand and its people. More US nose butting and finger pointing.

+1. Yes, some people (and nations) just never learn.

I've been able to visit every website that I've ever wanted. What sort of websites are you guys trying to get onto that is blocked?

I know someone who is writing a historical book in Thailand. They asked me to copy a Wikipedia page on a previous King as it was not available from within the country. There was nothing particularly controversial on the page so I am not sure why it was blocked.

Edited September 28, 201213 yr by adrock212

As usual government holdig back the nation development until after they have made a profit off of it. Are there any red shirt sources of information being monitored and closed down or charged with LM laws?

Actually, my favourite porn site was heavily restricted under the yellow shirts. Go figure. When Yinluck came into power *BOOM* they came back. What gives?