Freedom of expression: Thai Police seek to check LINE posts

[webfact]

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
Police seek to check Line posts
PAKORN PUENGNETR,
ASINA PORNWASIN,
CHANIKARN PHUMHIRAN
The Nation

by Nation Graphic

JAPANESE OPERATOR OF CHAT APP ASKED TO HELP; TCSD AWAITING RESPONSE

BANGKOK: -- Police plan to study the conversations and comments posted on the popular social-media application Line to see if they violate the law or threaten national security.

Pol Maj Ge Pisit Pao-in, commander of the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD), said the agency had asked Line Corporation in Japan to cooperate, but had failed with other operators of social-media websites as they were mostly in the West and did not allow such investigation.

"We have been talking to them [the operators of social media] a lot, but they do not want to cooperate. When they want anything, they expect to get it, but when we ask them for something, they rarely help us. They have taken a lot from Thailand but refused to cooperate with Thailand. I won't let them go if they make any mistakes," he warned.

TCSD officials will be sent to Japan to seek information about suspicious Line users in Thai-land. The Nation contacted Na-ver Japan, the developer of Line, yesterday for feedback and was told that the company would respond today. Although Pisit admitted that his agency had the means to keep track of people's chat records, it had decided to ask Naver Japan to be ready to send a report on chat records when asked. His agency has yet to hear of the company's decision.

"We are not violating anybody's rights, as the checking is being done overseas. So you can't really attack me for this," he said.

Pisit said his agency also had the authority to check people's social activities on smart phones.

"Nowadays people use smart phones like a mobile computer. They use it to take videos, upload information, transfer money and connect to social networks. Therefore, we have to investigate information being sent via smart phones as well," he said. "If I want, I can investigate all the information on smart phones. We can investigate all the crimes done via computer systems."

Last week, Pisit summoned four suspects for allegedly breaching Article 14 of the National Computer Act and Article 116 of the Criminal Law by posting messages via social media, saying they anticipated a coup and urged people to stock up on food and water. He said such statements could put people in a state of panic, and those who "liked" or "shared" the messages could be considered violators of the law as well.

This action was met by an open letter of opposition from four professional media organisations. Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission also issued a statement warning the police to use their authority carefully and not violate people's fundamental rights and freedoms.

NHRC chairwoman Amara Pongsapich said looking into people's online chats was a violation of their rights, and clear guidelines that are acceptable globally should be identified first.

"Most conversations are personal and on personal issues. Checking on such conversations is like tapping people's phone lines. If [the agency] is really going to do this, it needs to set clear guidelines and keep people's rights and privacy in mind."


-- The Nation 2013-08-13

[Thai at Heart]

Oh dear of dear.

It gets worse minute by minute. So a copper interprets a law a certain way. Is there not anyone who can tell him he is intruding on peoples rights?

[tominbkk]

With PTP in power and especially if Thaksin gets back you can expect more of this type of policy, times ten!

[ChinChanGamble]

Oh dear of dear.

It gets worse minute by minute. So a copper interprets a law a certain way. Is there not anyone who can tell him he is intruding on peoples rights?

It appears people are as he seems to have an answer! If this really kicks off Thailand can say goodbye to tourism all together! People doing border runs to Burma will just keep going in that direction! Haven't been to Cambodia myself so that would be my first port of call I think!

I could handle the nonsense before but it's getting ridiculous now!

Sent from my LT26i using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Songhua]

Imagine the wide eyes of someone teleported from the 1950's when confronted with the way of the world in 2013. And then overlay it with an image of TCSD commander Pol Maj Gen Pisit Pao-in.

[NongKhaiKid]

How is saying " the government is making a mess of things " a threat to national security ?

We all know there are things not to be discussed here but the PTP Thought Police are starting to run riot and it's a sad day when criticism is to be stifled.

[Thai at Heart]

Oh dear of dear.

It gets worse minute by minute. So a copper interprets a law a certain way. Is there not anyone who can tell him he is intruding on peoples rights?

It appears people are as he seems to have an answer! If this really kicks off Thailand can say goodbye to tourism all together! People doing border runs to Burma will just keep going in that direction! Haven't been to Cambodia myself so that would be my first port of call I think!

I could handle the nonsense before but it's getting ridiculous now!

Sent from my LT26i using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Those saying it, are toothless.

[yourauntbob]

1 billion facebook, 200 million line, 554 million twitter

I thought Thailand only had 65 million people?

edit

ok, sorry, that was total users and Thai users are to the right.

Edited August 12, 2013 by yourauntbob

[Robby nz]

"We have been talking to them [the operators of social media] a lot, but they do not want to cooperate. When they want anything, they expect to get it, but when we ask them for something, they rarely help us. They have taken a lot from Thailand but refused to cooperate with Thailand. I won't let them go if they make any mistakes," he warned.

So he is now threatening the operators of social media sites.

What does he think he is to make threats against site operators in other parts of the world?

How long will it take him to get around to this site?

[ChinChanGamble]

How is saying " the government is making a mess of things " a threat to national security ?

We all know there are things not to be discussed here but the PTP Thought Police are starting to run riot and it's a sad day when criticism is to be stifled.  

I read yesterday's post in this too, and wasn't quite sure if it is all criticisms or just those that state a coup??

Sent from my LT26i using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Thai at Heart]

"We have been talking to them [the operators of social media] a lot, but they do not want to cooperate. When they want anything, they expect to get it, but when we ask them for something, they rarely help us. They have taken a lot from Thailand but refused to cooperate with Thailand. I won't let them go if they make any mistakes," he warned.

So he is now threatening the operators of social media sites.

What does he think he is to make threats against site operators in other parts of the world?

How long will it take him to get around to this site?

Probably not long until it reaches here.

[webfact]

Who can access your comments
Asina Pornwasin
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- FACEBOOK: In the last half of 2012, Facebook received up to 10,000 requests for user data from government entities in the United States, including criminal-and national-security-related requests, lawyer Ted Ullyot said.

These requests run the gamut - from things like a local sheriff trying to find a missing child to a federal marshal tracking a fugitive and a police department investigating an assault to a national-security official investigating a terrorist threat. The requests involved between 18,000 and 19,000 user accounts.

TWITTER: In the first half of 2013, the operators got 1,157 requests from 35 governments seeking information for 1,697 specific accounts.

In the latest Report on Information Requests, Thailand was not included in the list of those seeking information. The United States filed 902 requests for information related to 1,319 Twitter accounts. The US leads the way, comprising 78 per cent of all requests received, followed by Japan with a total of 8 per cent of the overall requests, up from 6 per cent in July-December 2012.

Since the inception of its Transparency Report in July 2012, Twitter has received inquiries from 35 different governments. From January to June 2013, the company received requests from 26 governments, with an increase of about 15 per cent since July to December 2012.

According to Twitter's Transparency Report, information has been sought in relation with criminal investigations or cases.

LINE: According to its privacy policy (http://line.naver.jp/line_rules/en/), the operator says that information used when creating a new account, such as telephone number and e-mail address, will be used for the aims and purposes of the service only and will not be visible to other users.

The statement also says the company will never provide user information to any third parties except when the law requires it to do so.


-- The Nation 2013-08-13

[NongKhaiKid]

How is saying " the government is making a mess of things " a threat to national security ?

We all know there are things not to be discussed here but the PTP Thought Police are starting to run riot and it's a sad day when criticism is to be stifled.

I read yesterday's post in this too, and wasn't quite sure if it is all criticisms or just those that state a coup??

Sent from my LT26i using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

It will be made up as they go along with a " one size fits all " mentality. Look how the Lese Majesty laws are misused.

[Thai at Heart]

How is saying " the government is making a mess of things " a threat to national security ?

We all know there are things not to be discussed here but the PTP Thought Police are starting to run riot and it's a sad day when criticism is to be stifled.

I read yesterday's post in this too, and wasn't quite sure if it is all criticisms or just those that state a coup??

Sent from my LT26i using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

It will be made up as they go along with a " one size fits all " mentality. Look how the Lese Majesty laws are misused.

Until a bigger pooyai tells this pooyai that he is infringing rights, he will interpret however his little brain likes.

[Songhua]

How is saying " the government is making a mess of things " a threat to national security ?

We all know there are things not to be discussed here but the PTP Thought Police are starting to run riot and it's a sad day when criticism is to be stifled.

I read yesterday's post in this too, and wasn't quite sure if it is all criticisms or just those that state a coup??

Sent from my LT26i using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

'We HAVE to investigate information being sent'

'If I want, I can investigate ALL the information'

'they can take videos, upload information, transfer money and connect to ...'

2+2=scary

[Bluespunk]

""We have been talking to them [the operators of social media] a lot, but they do not want to cooperate. When they want anything, they expect to get it, but when we ask them for something, they rarely help us. They have taken a lot from Thailand but refused to cooperate with Thailand. I won't let them go if they make any mistakes," he warned."

I bet they don't want to cooperate, they can recognise a totalitarian thought police thug when they see one. This man is dangerous and full of BS, no wonder PT chose him to censor people's thinking. The only saving grace is that he does appear to be quite thick judging by his statements, could just be his cover though. Very good actor if it is.

[Bluespunk]

"If I want, I can investigate all the information on smart phones. We can investigate all the crimes done via computer systems."

So passing information is a crime in this guy's eyes?

[jaidam]

I would not be too worried about being prosecuted for having posted negative sentiments on TV or having "liked" such sentiments. Remember that the amnesty for all political crimes since 2006's good c**p will cover these crimes.

After the amnesty has been enacted it will be a totally different scenario. I for one will be cancelling TV account, if indeed there is still internet available in Thailand at all. If I were YL I would outlaw the internet totally, there is no need for internet in a dicatorship. I mean, the Shins sold their telecoms business already so there is no benefit to society in having a medium to exchange thoughts and ideas. It only serves to promote restlesness and dissatisfaction.

[RickeyParkany]

It doesn't help much for the paragon of virtue, *The Land of the Free & The Brave*, and its NSA henchmen & handlers to be setting the moral ceiling by such egregious methods, leading the pack in a race-to-the-bottom for personal privacy and warrantless searchs & seizures...where? Oh! Where is Moral Authority in these dangerous times? ;-} rap.

Edited August 13, 2013 by RickeyParkany

[Thai at Heart]

""We have been talking to them [the operators of social media] a lot, but they do not want to cooperate. When they want anything, they expect to get it, but when we ask them for something, they rarely help us. They have taken a lot from Thailand but refused to cooperate with Thailand. I won't let them go if they make any mistakes," he warned."

I bet they don't want to cooperate, they can recognise a totalitarian thought police thug when they see one. This man is dangerous and full of BS, no wonder PT chose him to censor people's thinking. The only saving grace is that he does appear to be quite thick judging by his statements, could just be his cover though. Very good actor if it is.

They have taken a lot from Thailand????

I know we can't buy land, but what a ridiculous xenophobic comment....

[DocN]

With PTP in power and especially if Thaksin gets back you can expect more of this type of policy, times ten!

Oh yeah...remember the good ol' days of the Abisith- government?

Not one web- page blocked, no censorship whatsoever, by no means the highest- number of web- sides blocked?

The days when freedom of expression had one field-day after another!

Things were so much better than!

[FarangTalk]

As predicted, a period of prolonged social unrest is almost upon us and media censorship is increasing to that effect.

In a country where the law is regarded as a mere inconvenience for most, and people can be sentenced to 15 years for sending an SMS then die shortly after in prison, where the rich and connected murder and escape deserved punishment... what did you think was gonna happen?

The internet is the most dangerous phenomenon for these people, and they are doing everything in their power to ensure you don't use it against them.

Sorry, were you under the misguided impression that Thailand is more free than your home country because you can drive drunk, litter, use prostitutes and commit other petty crimes with impunity?

Remember; even criticism is a crime here.

[h90]

Oh dear of dear.

It gets worse minute by minute. So a copper interprets a law a certain way. Is there not anyone who can tell him he is intruding on peoples rights?

It appears people are as he seems to have an answer! If this really kicks off Thailand can say goodbye to tourism all together! People doing border runs to Burma will just keep going in that direction! Haven't been to Cambodia myself so that would be my first port of call I think!

I could handle the nonsense before but it's getting ridiculous now!

Sent from my LT26i using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Germany, UK, USA, Russia, China are doing the same spying a long time, so tourists will feel themself like at home...

[FarangTalk]

Oh dear of dear.

It gets worse minute by minute. So a copper interprets a law a certain way. Is there not anyone who can tell him he is intruding on peoples rights?

It appears people are as he seems to have an answer! If this really kicks off Thailand can say goodbye to tourism all together! People doing border runs to Burma will just keep going in that direction! Haven't been to Cambodia myself so that would be my first port of call I think!

I could handle the nonsense before but it's getting ridiculous now!

Sent from my LT26i using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Germany, UK, USA, Russia, China are doing the same spying a long time, so tourists will feel themself like at home...

Are those countries also locking people up for 15+ years for sending SMS messages or not removing posts from web forums quick enough?

[Tiffer]

Oh dear of dear.

It gets worse minute by minute. So a copper interprets a law a certain way. Is there not anyone who can tell him he is intruding on peoples rights?

It appears people are as he seems to have an answer! If this really kicks off Thailand can say goodbye to tourism all together! People doing border runs to Burma will just keep going in that direction! Haven't been to Cambodia myself so that would be my first port of call I think!

I could handle the nonsense before but it's getting ridiculous now!

Nope. It would not bring the tourism industry to it's knees, but if it helped clear out all the illegals who abuse the system or helped with the southern troubles, it can't be all bad.

[alant]

With PTP in power and especially if Thaksin gets back you can expect more of this type of policy, times ten!

I seem to recall he clamped down on facebook the last time he was in power, or maybe not as it was rather difficult to get any form of decent internet then

[Thait Spot]

This is morally repugnant

[wackysleet]

With PTP in power and especially if Thaksin gets back you can expect more of this type of policy, times ten!

While not in agreeing with this intrusion in our private lives and the so called freedom of speech then perhaps he thinks if it's good enough for America and England to do it and perhaps other western countries then it's good enough for Thailand.

[Thait Spot]

With PTP in power and especially if Thaksin gets back you can expect more of this type of policy, times ten!

Oh yeah...remember the good ol' days of the Abisith- government?

Not one web- page blocked, no censorship whatsoever, by no means the highest- number of web- sides blocked?

The days when freedom of expression had one field-day after another!

Things were so much better than!

What an apologist you are.

Intercepting social media messages in the manner suggested abbove is a million times more evil than blocking websites,

[unanimosity]

"We have been talking to them [the operators of social media] a lot, but they do not want to cooperate. When they want anything, they expect to get it, but when we ask them for something, they rarely help us. They have taken a lot from Thailand but refused to cooperate with Thailand. I won't let them go if they make any mistakes," he warned.

So he is now threatening the operators of social media sites.

What does he think he is to make threats against site operators in other parts of the world?

How long will it take him to get around to this site?

Probably not long until it reaches here.

What are you talking about? No access required. It is all public domain. You only sign in to post and it is doubtful that is their intent. Just Google your handle + Thai Visa and see what you get.