Thai Govt Threatens Action Against Masked Facebook Users

[webfact]

Govt threatens action against masked FB users
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Pheu Thai Party threatened yesterday to trace and take legal action against Facebook users with profile photos of the Guy Fawkes white mask for attacking the government and former prime minister and de-facto party leader Thaksin Shinawatra.

Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit said he and party legal experts would meet today to discuss legal action against the Facebook users, who use the white mask from the Hollywood movie 'V for Vendetta' as their profile photo.

However, an information technology legal expert, Paiboon Amornpinyokiat, said expressing one's political view or stance through a statement or posting symbolic photos were not in violation of either criminal laws or the Computer Crimes Act - as long as the statement or images were not false, contrary to others' interests, or slandered others.

Prompong said the government believed the group belonged to the same team that defaced the PM's Office website recently with derogatory messages.

On Saturday, the FB users posted a message that said: "The people's army has awakened. We pronounce here that we will bring down and eradicate the Thaksin regime from Thailand."

This message was posted repeatedly on websites of the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and the Facebook pages of Thaksin, his sister PM Yingluck Shinawatra, his son Panthongtae "Oak" Shinawatra, and the Government House website Thai Khu Fah.

The "V mask" photo was widely used by Facebook users to protest against Channel 3's move to block the final episode of its Nuamek TV drama series early this year.

Not long after the message was posted on the Pheu Thai website, a user with the title of Thaksin and his photo in the profile, posted a message attacking party members for being "idiots" to allow the derogatory messages to be posted. But the post by "Thaksin" was later removed.


-- The Nation 2013-05-27

RELATED TOPIC:

Facebook Users Join Anti-Govt Campaign

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/642059-facebook-users-join-anti-govt-campaign/

[BookMan]

That's the ticket! Give more publicity to the situation . We can't have people exercising any democratic freedoms!

Many Thai people (IME) have several Facebook accounts, so good luck chasing down 'LovelyLadyLegs'; and 'FastBikeJacky'

Edited May 26, 2013 by BookMan

[Robby nz]

PT democracy and freedom of speech comes to the fore once again.

[MaxLee]

The ruling government will have to shut the entire Internet down very soon,

.... will they do it??? That's the only way...

Are they capable of? ... Most likely... because the Internet exposes a lot world wide within milli seconds

On the other hand you can crack-hack the government agencies' websites because their passwords are "PASSWORD"

[NongKhaiKid]

What a surprise ! I'm sure the PTP leadership must be frustrated as they wonder how to get the message over " we intend to have complete control and criticism will not be tolerated ! "

[Bellweather]

Nice one Thailand, let's close down down some social media sites and get a few people into court. Show the world you can be as repressive as any good dictatorship

[Bellweather]

Just listening to a news report that a PTP spokesman has described the Facebook postings as the work of " mentally disturbed " people. Isn't this the excuse the old USSR and others used to lock critics etc away without the need for courts ?

Plod called protesters in Chiang Mai " garbage " and refused to apologise but criticse Thaksin, PTP / those in government , policies etc and you are Public Enemy No.1.

[creekside]

Pheu Thai Party threatened yesterday to trace and take legal action against Facebook users

Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit said he and party legal experts would meet today to discuss legal action against the Facebook users

In their rush to amend constitution articles, here's another they can re-write.

Article 45.

A person shall enjoy the liberty to express his opinion, make speech, write, print, publicise, and make expression by other means, except if it is negative to the Pheu Thai Party or any of its members.

The proto-facsist tendencies of the Yingluck administration becoming more and more evident.

[Songhua]

' .... as long as the images or statement were not .... contrary to others interests ... '

Read as: you, the people, are not entitled to an opinion.

[whybother]

Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit said he and party legal experts would meet today to discuss legal action against the Facebook users, who use the white mask from the Hollywood movie 'V for Vendetta' as their profile photo.

Maybe they can all be charged with copyright offences.

If that fails, I'm sure the BIB can get them for littering.

[Noistar]

The 'People's Democratic Republic of Thailand' draws ever nearer

[retell]

jee i have the same profile pic as a sympathiser with Occupy

and recently their " March against Montsanto"

can i expect a knock on the door soon?

[wildorchid]

Hacking a facebook or other account is wrong, and should be considered a criminal act, this regardless who's account it is

hacking a facebook account and putting hurtful, disgusting, comments on it is wrong and should be considered a criminal act

Think if it was your facebook account or your wife's or daughters account and horrible things were put on it, I challenge you to support anyone who hacks peoples accounts then!!! I THINK NOT

we have a right to express views but hacking accounts is wrong...

[creekside]

Hacking a facebook or other account is wrong, and should be considered a criminal act, this regardless who's account it is

hacking a facebook account and putting hurtful, disgusting, comments on it is wrong and should be considered a criminal act

Think if it was your facebook account or your wife's or daughters account and horrible things were put on it, I challenge you to support anyone who hacks peoples accounts then!!! I THINK NOT

we have a right to express views but hacking accounts is wrong...

They aren't hacking.

Re-read the OP.

They're posting messages on public access websites, the same as you are doing here.

[rubberduck]

Hacking a facebook or other account is wrong, and should be considered a criminal act, this regardless who's account it is

hacking a facebook account and putting hurtful, disgusting, comments on it is wrong and should be considered a criminal act

Think if it was your facebook account or your wife's or daughters account and horrible things were put on it, I challenge you to support anyone who hacks peoples accounts then!!! I THINK NOT

we have a right to express views but hacking accounts is wrong...

Hacking ? Did you actually read the article ?

[connda]

Strong VPN

[AleG]

From somewhere else:

Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit Sunday said the online campaign is "unethical" and "psychologically disturbed".

Indeed, they should do something less insane, like flooding Yingluck's home door in human blood. That would be just fine.

[MikeOboe57]

It is nice to see that there are more and more people out there that are no longer willing to be spoonfed the daily Government crap.

And it is very interesting to watch the reaction of this cartoon Government to that.

[gemini81]

Hacking a facebook or other account is wrong, and should be considered a criminal act, this regardless who's account it is

hacking a facebook account and putting hurtful, disgusting, comments on it is wrong and should be considered a criminal act

Think if it was your facebook account or your wife's or daughters account and horrible things were put on it, I challenge you to support anyone who hacks peoples accounts then!!! I THINK NOT

we have a right to express views but hacking accounts is wrong...

You didn't even bother to read the article it appears.

[rubberduck]

It is nice to see that there are more and more people out there that are no longer willing to be spoonfed the daily Government crap.

And it is very interesting to watch the reaction of this cartoon Government to that.

A time of showing true faces, on both sides...

The maipenrai era is near to it's end.

Edited May 27, 2013 by rubberduck

[rubberduck]

Hacking a facebook or other account is wrong, and should be considered a criminal act, this regardless who's account it is

hacking a facebook account and putting hurtful, disgusting, comments on it is wrong and should be considered a criminal act

Think if it was your facebook account or your wife's or daughters account and horrible things were put on it, I challenge you to support anyone who hacks peoples accounts then!!! I THINK NOT

we have a right to express views but hacking accounts is wrong...

You didn't even bother to read the article it appears.

Seems to be a Thai lady with a short but pretty weird topic history.

[DocN]

It is nice to see that there are more and more people out there that are no longer willing to be spoonfed the daily Government crap.

And it is very interesting to watch the reaction of this cartoon Government to that.

A time of showing true faces, on both sides...

The maipenrai era is near to it's end.

Dream on!

This mai pen rai- era will be replaced by another mai pen rai- era...and another...and another.

[rubberduck]

It is nice to see that there are more and more people out there that are no longer willing to be spoonfed the daily Government crap.

And it is very interesting to watch the reaction of this cartoon Government to that.

A time of showing true faces, on both sides...

The maipenrai era is near to it's end.

Dream on!

This mai pen rai- era will be replaced by another mai pen rai- era...and another...and another.

hahahehehurrrrrrp

[drdoom6996]

Pheu Thai Party threatened yesterday to trace and take legal action against Facebook users with profile photos of the Guy Fawkes white mask for attacking the government and former prime minister and de-facto party leader Thaksin Shinawatra.

And I thought he was a convicted criminal. He is the De Facto leader.

[drdoom6996]

Is the spokesperson for the PTP government ethical? PTP only talk about ethics or democracy when they have to act like they had ethics, or morality at one time or another. PTP = No Ethics, No Morals, plenty of corruption.

[trompelemonde]

They have a right to protest.

However, the choice of Guido Fawkes as an outlet for this is ridiculous and shows their total ignorance of what he did and why he did it. He was a terrorist, a minor player as part of a silly bunch of upper class English RC plotters who who tried to commit regicide and failed.

Edited May 27, 2013 by trompelemonde

[BeforeTigers]

I don't really understand why this article focuses so much on their avatars.
Are they not aware of the history of that mask on the internet?

[Robby nz]

However, the choice of Guido Fawkes as an outlet for this is ridiculous and shows their total ignorance of what he did and why he did it. He was a terrorist, a minor player as part of a silly bunch of upper class English RC plotters who who tried to commit regicide and failed.

Did you not read the second sentence?

The use of the mask has nothing to do with what GF did in the past the idea came from a recent movie. Most have no idea of way back British history and don't care.

These people who are posting on facebook are ordinary Thai's who have woken up to what this Govt is doing and are starting to speak out in the only way they can.

When the Govt issues threats against them it only shows them that they are correct and reinforces in them the need to continue.

If the Govt had just shut up and accepted that people have a right to an opinion then the whole thing could well have died.

Now no chance, they have now been given fresh ammunition to use against the Govt so the movement will grow, with or without the masks.

[MunterHunter]

They have a right to protest.

However, the choice of Guido Fawkes as an outlet for this is ridiculous and shows their total ignorance of what he did and why he did it. He was a terrorist, a minor player as part of a silly bunch of upper class English RC plotters who who tried to commit regicide and failed.

Sounds like its more suited to be the icon of PTP... is that why they are so pissed?

[Thai at Heart]

I don't really understand why this article focuses so much on their avatars.

Are they not aware of the history of that mask on the internet?

Indeed, if their security isn't even strong enough to keep a hacker from Songkla University out, I would think a story like this could have "anonymous's" ears twitching.