Thai Democrat MPs to return free iPads

[webfact]

POLITICS
Democrat MPs to return free iPads
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- A fear of being eavesdropped on is driving most Democrat MPs to return their free iPads to the Parliament Secretariat this week, Democrat MP Samart Maluleem said yesterday.

"My friend told me that in developed countries, their governments would spy on important figures using this trick [of lending out devices]. They can check the locations of those people and what messages they send," he said.

The foreign friend, who works in the telecoms business, warned about using the iPads to send personal information or access social media.

Samart said he alerted his party's key members, including party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, and they agreed to give the tablets back. "We should not fall into their trap because of 'free' things," he said.

Earlier Democrat party-list MP Boonyod Sukthinthai said he would petition the House committee on parliamentary affairs to investigate the purchase of 808 computer tablets for MPs and senators for irregularities.

To begin with, the budget was quoted at Bt55,646,200 and Bt28,000 per tablet versus the Bt26,000 market price. Then accessories were procured such as SIM cards, cases at Bt1,020 each, earphones at Bt965 each, pens at Bt430 each, charger stands at Bt910 each plus two additional years of warrantee at Bt6,000 each, while 3G Internet fees would amount to Bt10,271 per tablet per year.

Other items also pushed up costs, such system development and management, training and five automatic scanning machines, he added.


-- The Nation 2013-08-05

[Stradavarius37]

Children and their toys

[retell]

jee must be too hard to clean out unwanted spyware and put a new OS on it

they can also send those pads to me

will be having good use for them , give them to the school cos no-one has received their tablet yet up here in the sticks

1 i pad is the same price as for half a class of tablets

[phosphorescent]

They missed out on a PR opportunity. They should have donated them instead of just giving them back.

[LuckyLew]

They missed out on a PR opportunity. They should have donated them instead of just giving them back.

You are right

but do you really expect rich out of touch people to do the right thing?

[noitom]

The conspiracy theory thickens as he warned them about "listening in."

[ginjag]

They should NOT have accepted them in the first place. Greed, then oh my god, they can spy on me--Ha Ha

[Scott]

They could communicate in English. I doubt anyone would be able to decipher that.

[h90]

They missed out on a PR opportunity. They should have donated them instead of just giving them back.

I guess it would be illegal. Because they got it for doing their work. Like a company laptop.

You can give it back but you can't donate or sell it.

[moe666]

These things do not even need to be on for other parties to listen in on conversations.

[phosphorescent]

The funny thing about this is most if not all of them already have iPhones, android smart phones and tablets. I doubt if they'll be tossing them any time soon. Its more of a statement than anything else.

[ginjag]

They missed out on a PR opportunity. They should have donated them instead of just giving them back.

I guess it would be illegal. Because they got it for doing their work. Like a company laptop.

You can give it back but you can't donate or sell it.

They got it for doing their work.?????? Look at the parliament house sessions 5% only occupy places. No one deserves these perks, disgusting how near all abuse their work.

Granted their is a % that will always be missing, I'llness-local duty in the constituency- and SHOPPING/TRIPS ABROAD.

Every perk that can be obtained is got. not satisfied with corrupt rake offs, free flights accross country, free hotel perks, high class food, then the TALL STORY CLUB, every time they speak.

I feel sorry for the Thai public, for not wanting to know --or the stupid fear to speak out. WAKE UP POPULATION.

[Thaddeus]

Probably would have been more poignant if they returned them on the grounds of not accepting gifts from thieves.

[h90]

They missed out on a PR opportunity. They should have donated them instead of just giving them back.

I guess it would be illegal. Because they got it for doing their work. Like a company laptop.

You can give it back but you can't donate or sell it.

They got it for doing their work.?????? Look at the parliament house sessions 5% only occupy places. No one deserves these perks, disgusting how near all abuse their work.

Granted their is a % that will always be missing, I'llness-local duty in the constituency- and SHOPPING/TRIPS ABROAD.

Every perk that can be obtained is got. not satisfied with corrupt rake offs, free flights accross country, free hotel perks, high class food, then the TALL STORY CLUB, every time they speak.

I feel sorry for the Thai public, for not wanting to know --or the stupid fear to speak out. WAKE UP POPULATION.

yes they got it to do their work....that doesn't mean that they really do their work.

The parliamentary system is complete rotten down. Also in the west. Everyone votes like the party tells. The discussion in the parliament is nothing because the deals are agreed in the back-room and the MPs vote like they are told to do. No decision making is happening there.

would be enough to have 4-5 people sit there.

Sad but true

[Mampara]

They missed out on a PR opportunity. They should have donated them instead of just giving them back.

I guess it would be illegal. Because they got it for doing their work. Like a company laptop.

You can give it back but you can't donate or sell it.

When they give it back, will it be re-sold again, or would it be donated to a yellow shirt MP?

[Mampara]

So Now we know why they issued Smart Phones free to all the village headmen.

[ginjag]

Probably would have been more poignant if they returned them on the grounds of not accepting gifts from thieves.

Want to respond, but do not want officials evesdropping on my reply.

[tominbkk]

Thy don't understand the iPad then. You have to know a user's ID and password to do any kind of eavesdropping. As long as you create those things on your own, they will not be able to track you. If it's given to you with a preset ID and PW though, then you could have some issues.

Sounds to me like either they aren't too smart about electronics or they are trying to be dramatic. Or both.

[WitawatWatawit]

About 47,600 - that's a deal Taxsin would be proud of.

Sent from my iPad traced to the Virgin Islands - or is it Dawei today? Jeez!

[wackysleet]

Probably would have been more poignant if they returned them on the grounds of not accepting gifts from thieves.

Are you implying that the democrats have never had sticky fingers or are you just a PTP hater?.

[h90]

Thy don't understand the iPad then. You have to know a user's ID and password to do any kind of eavesdropping. As long as you create those things on your own, they will not be able to track you. If it's given to you with a preset ID and PW though, then you could have some issues.

Sounds to me like either they aren't too smart about electronics or they are trying to be dramatic. Or both.

theoretically you could have a own firmware on it that sends a copy of everything to PTP. But that sounds a bit too much James Bond for Thailand.

[Bagwan]

Is that the demolition king Chuvit making the most of a photo opportunity? He has always managed to keep his insider knowledge safe and secure.

[WitawatWatawit]

Is that the demolition king Chuvit making the most of a photo opportunity? He has always managed to keep his insider knowledge safe and secure.

It sure does look like the saviour of Soi 10. Maybe he doesn't need an iPad to go with his 5 smart phones. Unless he wants a bigger screen to play Grand Theft Auto.

[SOTIRIOS]

.......other peoples money.......

Children and their toys

[drdoom6996]

Talk about getting screwed, my daughter didn't get in on any Chinapads, and the government got IPADS at 28 grand. I got her a Samsung quad core processor laptop for 19,000. No extras needed. She is in Heaven as I have one just like it.

By the way if they have you phone number they can find you then too. Even if it's off. You must remove the battery or SIM card.

[tingtongteesood]

Notice the prices mentioned here compared to what they paid / are paying for the school kids 'tablets' - the 'elite' keep the good toys for themselves and palm off the cheap crap to everyone else...

[h90]

Notice the prices mentioned here compared to what they paid / are paying for the school kids 'tablets' - the 'elite' keep the good toys for themselves and palm off the cheap crap to everyone else...

I only need to look how long a minister need to work until he get a pension for all his life and how high it is in my farang country....

.....Same same.....

[marell]

Who are they going to return them to?

[ginjag]

Probably would have been more poignant if they returned them on the grounds of not accepting gifts from thieves.

Are you implying that the democrats have never had sticky fingers or are you just a PTP hater?.

I want to answer that --- NO and Yes

[animatic]

DUH...

You can turn ' LOCATION ' features off with One Click.

Then you are Apple Savy 17 year old at Pantip Plaza could make these 100% safe.