EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
'Liking' political rumours is a crime


Pisit

Police Maj Gen Pisit Pao-in, commander of the Technology Crime Suppression Division, defends his agency against criticism over its threat to take legal action against Facebook users who "like" certain messages of a political nature.

He talks to The Sunday Nation’s Pakorn Puengnetr in an exclusive interview.

Q : Are asking if clicking "like" is now against the law.

It will be if you 'like' a message deemed damaging to national security. If you press 'like', it means you are accepting that message, which is tantamount to supporting it. By doing so, you help increase the credibility of the message and hence you should also be held responsible.

Q : Is this rule the same in other countries?

This has nothing to do with foreign countries, because they have different laws. We are taking preventive measures in dealing with this matter. Others may use the principle of law but we use the principle of political science.

Q : Do you think the police have done anything wrong in this?

I don't know. But believe me, I can take legal action against you. The Penal Code and the Computer Crime Act can be applied in this matter.

Q : Which message of the four people summoned by the TCSD was deemed unlawful?

Basically, they talked about the possibility of a coup, which is groundless and is clearly against the Computer Crime Act.

The TCSD action is just meant to have a psychological impact. We don't want these four persons to be jailed. We just questioned them and it's okay for them to say they didn't mean to create panic.

After this action, people are now more careful [about their Facebook messages]. I am mainly aiming at social peace.

So you mean from now on, people can't click 'like'?

I'm not prohibiting from pressing 'like'. But if you 'like' this kind of message, you will be arrested.

Q : What about "sharing" such a message?

There are two kinds of sharing. If you share in a way to support the original message, this is wrong. But if you comment against the message, this is okay.

Q : Will this rule be applied to all cases?

We will just focus on cases of political violence. If you don't prevent it, bad news will be covered by foreign media and confidence [in Thailand] will be affected.

Q : There has been a campaign that "liking is not a crime".

It's okay for people to "like" a Facebook page. But they can't 'like' rumours anymore. I think I have achieved my goal.

Q : Is the TCSD action intended as a threat?

No. We work without any bias about the political colours. Two of those summoned were red shirts, another is a white mask. [The last one is Thai PBS editor Sermsuk Kasiti pradit.]

Q : How did the TCSD go about this case?

I have a team here [at TCSD] and at the Royal Thai Police HQ. Our team searched the keyword "coup" and we found posts by these four persons. It was not difficult. We didn't have a particular watchlist.

Q : Do you think police will be criticised for this action?

It's okay. I just do my work and I have achieved my goal.


What the law says

The Criminal Code and Computer Crime Act can be enforced against people who "like" and "share" Facebook messages deemed unlawful by police, according to the Technology Crime Suppression Division commander.

Section 59 of the Criminal Code, involving Criminal Liability, states that "A person shall be criminally liable only when such person commits an act intentionally. … To commit an act intentionally is to do an act consciously and at the same time the doer desired or could have foreseen the effect of such doing."

Section 83, about Principals and Supporters, states that, "In case of an offence accrued by commission of two persons or more, such accomplices deemed to be principals shall be punished as provided by the law for such offence."

Under Section 14 of the Computer Crime Act, any person involved in dissemination or forwarding of computer data already known to be against this law shall be subject to imprisonment for not more than five years or a fine of up to Bt100,000, or both.

-- The Nation 2013-08-11

So the like button is now like a nuke button?

He's lost the plot ..... completely.

If you want free speach click the like button!!!

I wonder if the junta realized back in 2007 that the draconian Computer Crimes Act would prove so useful in safeguarding a democratic government against dangerous & mischievous rumours which could lead to its downfall? I suppose that's one reason why it was described as a good coup.

He's lost the plot ..... completely.

I was going to click "Like" on this comment but I am afraid the special operations group will come bursting through my windows and doors. Are thoughts still permitted?

Thailand is for Thais. The LIKE button is for Facebook.

Bring on the Junta!

He's lost the plot ..... completely.

I was going to click "Like" on this comment but I am afraid the special operations group will come bursting through my windows and doors. Are thoughts still permitted?

I've liked yours (just to test the waters).

Only in Thailand. A sign of things to come.

He's lost the plot ..... completely.

I was going to click "Like" on this comment but I am afraid the special operations group will come bursting through my windows and doors. Are thoughts still permitted?

I've liked yours (just to test the waters).

Silly boy, let me know where you are being housed and I will bring some muffins.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=CEEe2B3Oq5I

Wow...I hope he never finds the ThaiVisa website.

Wow...I hope he never finds the ThaiVisa website.

oh <deleted>, it was an accident I meant to hit the quote button and hit the like button. They are to close together

if it wasn't serious it would be a joke, is it ?

He's lost the plot ..... completely.

I was going to click "Like" on this comment but I am afraid the special operations group will come bursting through my windows and doors. Are thoughts still permitted?

I've liked yours (just to test the waters).

Silly boy, let me know where you are being housed and I will bring some muffins.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=CEEe2B3Oq5I

Songhua

c/- Bangkok Hilton

Bangkok

Land of Smiles

So I guess anyone who "likes" Thaksin's facebook page should be considered supporting an international criminal fugitive, huh?

And still there are people claiming the military coup was good. Thailand got stuck with an undemocratic constitution, and several laws limiting basic freedoms. And there is nothing the current government (or ANY government) can do about it; they're simply not the ones in power. (Other than take care of the day to day stuff)

Typically great responses from TV posters.

This man - and those behind him - are very, very dangerous. The quotes below sum up his beliefs and attitude far better than I can ever hope to.

http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/153313-nineteen-eighty-four

“If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face—for ever.”

― George Orwell, 1984

“But if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought.”
― George Orwell,1984

“It's a beautiful thing, the destruction of words.”
― George Orwell, 1984

The door is being broken in as I wri...

"they talked about the possibility of a coup, which is groundless.........."

There is no possibility of a coup, now or ever. A coup is impossible in Thailand. In fact, there has never been a coup in Thailand, and there never will be.

That might be a difficult argument to win in court. Now we might discuss false arrest and police harassment.

And still there are people claiming the military coup was good. Thailand got stuck with an undemocratic constitution, and several laws limiting basic freedoms. And there is nothing the current government (or ANY government) can do about it; they're simply not the ones in power. (Other than take care of the day to day stuff)

Can I like message?

"they talked about the possibility of a coup, which is groundless.........."

There is no possibility of a coup, now or ever. A coup is impossible in Thailand. In fact, there has never been a coup in Thailand, and there never will be.

That might be a difficult argument to win in court. Now we might discuss false arrest and police harassment.

Indeed. We use political science????? I think he may have been in front of the computer too much.

"Ideas are more powerful than guns. We would not let our enemies have guns, why should we let them have ideas." Joe Stalin (Champion of Russian Democracy)

Typically great responses from TV posters.

This man - and those behind him - are very, very dangerous. The quotes below sum up his beliefs and attitude far better than I can ever hope to.

http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/153313-nineteen-eighty-four

“If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face—for ever.”

― George Orwell, 1984

“But if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought.”

― George Orwell,1984

“It's a beautiful thing, the destruction of words.”

― George Orwell, 1984

The door is being broken in as I wri...

Let's pause for a moment to remember arthurboy.

Q : Is this rule the same in other countries?
This has nothing to do with foreign countries, because they have different laws. We are taking preventive measures in dealing with this matter. Others may use the principle of law but we use the principle of political science.

Hooray for Thainess!

And still there are people claiming the military coup was good. Thailand got stuck with an undemocratic constitution, and several laws limiting basic freedoms. And there is nothing the current government (or ANY government) can do about it; they're simply not the ones in power. (Other than take care of the day to day stuff)

The laws limiting the amount of theft by politicians were particularly restrictive, though other than that the constitutional changes were not so bad, unless you think it is a "right" to falsify other people's statements.

Could you enlighten us to the "several laws limiting basic freedoms." I see only one reasonable law being misapplied in this case, possibly due to political influence.

Myanmar of all places has gone the other way to Thailand on this and is more or less hands-off when it comes to internet activity (bar one particularly prominent anti-government blog), although that has unleashed a whole new set of problems in relation to hate speech in recent months...

"Do I not like this."

Graham Taylor, English philosopher and coach.

Quote from Article: "Others may use the principle of law but we use the principle of political science." I hope this is misquote in the article otherwise we are in big trouble. Perhaps this question/response needs clarification?

This is an absolute disgrace.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

The law was created before there was "LIKE" buttons, so the sensible thing would be to update the law to take into consideration changes in society and its behaviours, not use outdated laws to further reduce freedoms of individuals in society to think, express opinions and generally be human. Unfortunately "sensible" is not the day to day lexicon of the average thuggite.

Doe's it stop here or spread it's wings to liking comments that may tarnish Thailand's reputation. There are numerous facebook pages about corruption, the scams and things like the little girl Air who was beaten. If you pressed like on one of these could you be seen as anti Thai and tarnishing the good reputation of the country?