'Technical glitch' blamed for Facebook blocking: Thailand

[tetleythedog]

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"Jatuporn Promphan told the media that he and the NCPO had agreed to jointly lead the country to democracy. He also said all red shirts and former MPs were treated well in detention. He also called on the red shirts to help push the country forward."

Interesting; He can read the writing on the wall. Pity some dumb TV posters can't. This is no ordinary coup. Go, General. Your timing & Intel have been excellent so far. And if what happened to FB yesterday was actually a "test", then I would have to say, it was successful too.

Maybe, just maybe, there is finally a guy in charge who has the balls to change things.

[T_Dog]

My word, are there no limits at which the Junta is prepared to go to silence it's critics ?

It is evident the Junta is trying to blanket and censor it's own citizens with it own form of propaganda in trying to legitimize their actions. However, blocking social media will not abate the nation, but rather exacerbate the whole situation of public discontent. They already announced that the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is to further introduce a mechanism of monitoring its citizens in quite a profound manner, which is generally perceived as a step backwards into the 'dark ages' of repression.

It is worrying that the Authorities feel the need to clamp down on freedom of self-expression, by doing so could bring about a far greater revolt never seen before.

Unfortunately most regimes, police states, juntas, or whatever we have right now use repression as a primary tool. It will likely get worse before it gets better. Turning off FaceBook sure has brought about a response but in the end, the junta will make its own rules.

[zaphod reborn]

Now if that had happened a few weeks back it would have been blamed on Suthep.

Shows however what a pathetic bunch humans have become when something like is such a huge thing in their lives.

Those that think Facebook has no economic value are truly lost. The primary social networking tool of the Internet is now an integral part of the economy.

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

But not for the moronic posts that appear by the second on there, I really dont want to know when you just had a sh*t or were buying guava or yet another selfie, 90% mindless crap 10% useful.

I agree most of the content on facebook is for entertainment (or nuisance) value only. I am an HR manager of a large company. Facebook posts have short shelf-life and that is why even a brief outage can interfere with my work. I use it as a recruitment tool and it has been quite useful, allowing me to locate dozens of hires, who I may never encountered, had it not been for the social networking tool. I am sure others, who are job seekers, feel the same way. In fact, I came into my current position through initially contacting a facebook poster. Facebook has real value and to demean that, or dilute it, because of it's purely social aspect, is folly.

[useronthenet]

My word, are there no limits at which the Junta is prepared to go to silence it's critics ?

It is evident the Junta is trying to blanket and censor it's own citizens with it own form of propaganda in trying to legitimize their actions. However, blocking social media will not abate the nation, but rather exacerbate the whole situation of public discontent. They already announced that the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is to further introduce a mechanism of monitoring its citizens in quite a profound manner, which is generally perceived as a step backwards into the 'dark ages' of repression.

It is worrying that the Authorities feel the need to clamp down on freedom of self-expression, by doing so could bring about a far greater revolt never seen before.

Unfortunately most regimes, police states, juntas, or whatever we have right now use repression as a primary tool. It will likely get worse before it gets better. Turning off FaceBook sure has brought about a response but in the end, the junta will make its own rules.

---------- reply from useronthenet

Having watched Edward Snowden's interview by NBC, reminded me of the perils of any government determined to travel down the path of oppression and abuse of power. That here lies an intelligence person formed from what could be described by some, as the most powerful country in the world, which embellishes the rights and freedoms of a democratic institution like America, and yet acknowledged there was something seriously wrong with the present institution.

Thailand and it's citizens should take note, that no matter how much you repress the people, that they will overcome indiscriminate injustices through the power of the media.

Those that have not seen extracts of the interview can go to this link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOCmqZzXrdI

(assuming the Junta hasn't blocked this as well)

[Thanet]

Such a different story to what is in the press outside of Thailand on this issue

Any links?

The BBC report it as a gateway problem,

Reuters quotes the Junta as confirming that they blocked Facebook. The article goes on to say that the Junta will be asking social networking sites to 'cooperate' with them (or else, presumably) ....

QUOTE

We have blocked Facebook temporarily and tomorrow we will call a meeting with other social media, like Twitter and Instagram, to ask for cooperation from them," Surachai Srisaracam, permanent secretary of the Information and Communications Technology Ministry, told Reuters.

"Right now there's a campaign to ask for people to stage protests against the army so we need to ask for cooperation from social media to help us stop the spread of critical messages about the coup," he said.

UNQUOTE

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/28/thailand-politics-facebook-idUSL3N0O91GU20140528

Posting this from the UK, so not sure whether those of you in Thailand will be able to access the above link.

[Chao Lao Beach]

My favourite line from the OP ...

"A 6.1-magnitude quake could not match the chaos when people could not access Facebook for 30 minutes," posted user Insee." ...

.

But it could have been good for some business as their productivity should have gone up, but the amount of stress it would have caused would out way that.

Just imagine how many selfies were takes in that 30 mins !!!!

[Crushdepth]

In other news, Thailand's economic growth doubled for approximately 37 minutes...

Sent from somewhere in the Pacific

[toybits]

So the Military have come clean with their Technical Glitch story? That is what I have been reading elsewhere...

[wandasloan]

So the Military have come clean with their Technical Glitch story? That is what I have been reading elsewhere...

No. The bureaucrats at the ICT have come clean, and they stated it was a technical glitch or, in the case of the senior ministry guy, claimed he did it on purpose. So far as is known to this moment, the military had nothing to do with the outage or the explanation either one. Any updated information is welcome of course but the post three or four posts ago quotes a government person NOT a coup person.

.

[kieran2698]

When is the NCPO going to allow CNN, BBC etc. to come through?

I can still get world news via internet so the ban is ineffectual.

However, I still like to see the videos of events around the world.

They can always block segments they feel harm their progress.

Perhaps the problem is who will block segments. As political parties do have interests in the media it could be a case of not trusting them at the moment.

[wandasloan]

Perhaps the problem is who will block segments. As political parties do have interests in the media it could be a case of not trusting them at the moment.

No, there is definitely no problem about that. There is a very clear chain of command, and everyone knows how it's done. If there's a block, the order is from the coup headquarters, nowhere else. It goes to the ICT, nowhere else. The ISPs get orders on what to block from the ICT boys and girls, and they do not do what others tell them, not in current circumstances.

There are, for all intents and purposes, no political parties at the moment, or into the middle future. They will revive or be resuscitated later, either on the military's schedule or, in the more likely case of another 1992 and 2010, the mob's.

.

[freebyrd]

It may come as shock to some, or many, that there are those of us who get along very well without Zuckerberg's monster. [snip] [snip]

comma says a man who requires a website forum to get his message out. Irony, thou has changed thy name to freebyrd.

irony1.jpg

Also, everyone here should watch his "mouth". The patriots who seized power to direct us to a better Thailand are VERY active on Facebook, and were (as you can see from the name of the wall) even before the actual coup. If you know what's good for you, you will praise those who make the correct and nation-loving use of this marvelous website called Facebook.

Whoops, forgot the link:

https://www.facebook.com/PeaceandOrderMaintainingCommand

I suppose you will come back with a sarcastic retort at my next.

As a 19 year old I was surrounded by a mob in NI baying for my blood, so you will excuse me when I say I'm not quaking in my boots at your comments. That is but one small example of the many hairy situations I found myself in during 20 years in uniform.

As for the name freebyrd? Tongue in cheek given that I was subject to rules and regs in my youth, much less so in advancing years.

Actually, I think you missed the point, I said in my last that it's like religion and one man's meat........You're a fan of FB, I'm not, that's what makes us different. If the youngsters that work for me attended to work as diligently as they do to FB, I would be a much happier man.

As I no longer live in TL it's not in my worry orbit anyway, so this is my last on the subject.

[wandasloan]

I suppose you will come back with a sarcastic retort at my next.

As a 19 year old I was surrounded by a mob in NI baying for my blood, so you will excuse me when I say I'm not quaking in my boots at your comments. That is but one small example of the many hairy situations I found myself in during 20 years in uniform.

As for the name freebyrd? Tongue in cheek given that I was subject to rules and regs in my youth, much less so in advancing years.

Actually, I think you missed the point, I said in my last that it's like religion and one man's meat........You're a fan of FB, I'm not, that's what makes us different. If the youngsters that work for me attended to work as diligently as they do to FB, I would be a much happier man.

As I no longer live in TL it's not in my worry orbit anyway, so this is my last on the subject.

Ah! I was actually going to make a Lynyrd Skynyrd comment.

As far as Facebook. In the first place, authorities would do well to pay attention to the NUMBERS that get very, very agitated or hysterical when they lose contact. If it happens that they really lose contact, that will be a lot of people quite happy to assign responsibility, and perhaps not just by whining.

In the second place, authorities know full well that Facebook is important to some extent to the economy and confidence, and they know this so well that they use it extensively themselves. The idea they will cut Facebook is very close to ludicrous - and I'm a person who never says "never". This is very close to "never".

.

[fab4]

Just to be sure, I have nothing against people using facebook in this way.

I was just remarking to another posters comment about "Unless you use it for business, but I suppose you don't really care about the "little people".

If you 'misuse' a service you may complain of course, but seeking alternatives and using them in parallel seems a better approach when your business is on a tight monetary budget.

I'm sure the lady who bakes cakes will take your sage advice on board, rubl, and find an alternative way to run her "business" whilst hoping others will mind theirs.

[RubbaJohnny]

New replacement bottombook for 3rd world countires with new improved approved thinking,correct pictures and automatic likes for right people ,you know it makes sense.

Helps expalin why you would be insulted if franchise stolen in your mature white country but its ok here where the little brown folks who do the graft don't really understand and need to be shown there place,clean the pool,mow the lawn and be grateful for a tip as ordained in best of all possible worlds.Justifying selective inequality in your head for slow learners so that cognitive dissonance between truth and pragmatism doesn't interfere with your conscience.

[rubl]

Just to be sure, I have nothing against people using facebook in this way.

I was just remarking to another posters comment about "Unless you use it for business, but I suppose you don't really care about the "little people".

If you 'misuse' a service you may complain of course, but seeking alternatives and using them in parallel seems a better approach when your business is on a tight monetary budget.

I'm sure the lady who bakes cakes will take your sage advice on board, rubl, and find an alternative way to run her "business" whilst hoping others will mind theirs.

Interesting view on things. Please look the other way while I'm busy?

[max72]

I remember a statement of a general confirming the blocking of "some millions" FB pages. Now they say it was a glitch. Perhaps that block was just a test.

Instagram was blocked too. I don't believe in those weird coinsindences. Anyway, it would not be a good idea to block FB and IN ,the "educated" middle class would turn angry against the coup. They are all about shopping and instant messaging. Take one of those two things away (democracy or not democracy they don't care) and they will get angry. Let the Bangkokians be busy taking selfies and posting them in FB, they will have no time to protest.

[sumtingwong]

Twitter #facebookdown check

https://twitter.com/hashtag/facebookdown

[GoodThaiGirl]

"Jatuporn Promphan told the media that he and the NCPO had agreed to jointly lead the country to democracy. He also said all red shirts and former MPs were treated well in detention. He also called on the red shirts to help push the country forward."

Interesting; He can read the writing on the wall. Pity some dumb TV posters can't. This is no ordinary coup. Go, General. Your timing & Intel have been excellent so far. And if what happened to FB yesterday was actually a "test", then I would have to say, it was successful too.

Every coup in Thai history has led to a more divided country and no real improvement for the nation. There is no reason to believe that this coup is somehow going to change Thailand for the better.

I can not see any evidence of Jatuporn saying this to the media as well could you give us a link please? All that he has said he wishes no repeat of the 2010 violence and that he will not go against the conditions of his release.

Really impressed to see people out at Victory Monument every day protesting against the coup despite Prayuth's little threats of harsh action against them.

go join them then your a brave gooner..of course you wont...to busy trolling...how about you email the general .....

[GoodThaiGirl]

Just to be sure, I have nothing against people using facebook in this way.

I was just remarking to another posters comment about "Unless you use it for business, but I suppose you don't really care about the "little people".

If you 'misuse' a service you may complain of course, but seeking alternatives and using them in parallel seems a better approach when your business is on a tight monetary budget.

I'm sure the lady who bakes cakes will take your sage advice on board, rubl, and find an alternative way to run her "business" whilst hoping others will mind theirs.

Interesting view on things. Please look the other way while I'm busy?

hi rubl..it must be boring for you always beating khun fab4..why does he/she insist on posting sillyness all the time..

[wandasloan]

I remember a statement of a general confirming the blocking of "some millions" FB pages. Now they say it was a glitch. Perhaps that block was just a test.

Instagram was blocked too. I don't believe in those weird coinsindences. Anyway, it would not be a good idea to block FB and IN ,the "educated" middle class would turn angry against the coup. They are all about shopping and instant messaging. Take one of those two things away (democracy or not democracy they don't care) and they will get angry. Let the Bangkokians be busy taking selfies and posting them in FB, they will have no time to protest.

I'm pretty sure you don't remember a general saying the military blocked millions of Facebook pages. But if you can remember how to get a link to it, I'd admit you're right.

Instagram was not blocked. For that matter, Facebook was not blocked, although millions could not access it. Millions of others (including me) COULD access it.

I already said the same thing about what a bad idea it would be to block Facebook. But if you think selfies and ego trips describe Facebook in Thailand, there is definitely a lot you're not grasping about the economy.

.

[freebyrd]

"A 6.1-magnitude quake could not match the chaos when people could not access Facebook for 30 minutes," posted user Insee."

Insee, you could not be more wrong. Please get a life.

It may come as shock to some, or many, that there are those of us who get along very well without Zuckerberg's monster. Frankenstein would be proud of him, or perhaps I should say Mary Shelley would. I'm quite sure that I, and Mary, would be far more affected by an earthquake, while ZB and his followers would themselves be quaking because they can't send the latest selfie to their 506 'friends'.

I come from a generation that actually talks to people around a dinner table and don't take photos of my meal to send to 'friends'. It's like religion I suppose, a choice. One man's meat......

I agree with you in the fact that probably 99% of Thais use FB as you mention above but there are some of us who actually use Facebook for business.

I know several people who would be hit hard economically if Facebook were to be blocked completely in Thailand.

I, myself , use it for business and never post stupid photos of food or comments about where I am.

Fair comment. Given your well thought out reply, I surmise that you aren't given to panic the way many others seem to be. I would liken the loss of FB to having a landline disconnected in days gone by, something that was dealt with rather more calmly I think?

All that said, as I say with most subjects I comment on, one man's meat is another one's poison. I hope you can get back to earning your daily crust.

[Gonsalviz]

Must have been the same technical glitch that is still preventing us from watching CNN and BBC World

Neither one is worth watching anyhow.

[Gonsalviz]

Just got back. Can not seem to get Twitter either.

OMG!!

[Baerboxer]

Such a different story to what is in the press outside of Thailand on this issue

Any links?

The BBC report it as a gateway problem,

Reuters quotes the Junta as confirming that they blocked Facebook. The article goes on to say that the Junta will be asking social networking sites to 'cooperate' with them (or else, presumably) ....

QUOTE

We have blocked Facebook temporarily and tomorrow we will call a meeting with other social media, like Twitter and Instagram, to ask for cooperation from them," Surachai Srisaracam, permanent secretary of the Information and Communications Technology Ministry, told Reuters.

"Right now there's a campaign to ask for people to stage protests against the army so we need to ask for cooperation from social media to help us stop the spread of critical messages about the coup," he said.

UNQUOTE

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/28/thailand-politics-facebook-idUSL3N0O91GU20140528

Posting this from the UK, so not sure whether those of you in Thailand will be able to access the above link.

Thanks for posting this. Yes, the link can be accessed from Thailand. Reuters are saying differently to the BBC News, which is normally pro previous government. BBC don't quote anybody though say may be just them being lazy.

[smokie36]

Grinning.

[rametindallas]

Jatuporn Promphan told the media that he and the NCPO had agreed to jointly lead the country to democracy. He also said all red shirts and former MPs were treated well in detention. He also called on the red shirts to help push the country forward

Jatuporn, who is an opportunist, sees a chance to be a REAL leader of the rural NE and North. With Dr. Thaksin out of the picture, that leaves him and Thida and Nattawut as the only people to fill the power vacuum. Someone should fund them so they don't need Thaksin's money. Thaksin's money comes with too many 'strings' attached. If the Bangkok amataya are smart, they will fund Jatuporn and the Red Shirt movement, get them organized as an independent political force, and get them on their side, working together to build an equitable Thailand. The amataya would then be less dependent on the Democrat party. What a golden opportunity to displace Thaksin, build investments in Isaan, and bring peace and prosperity to all Thais.

[citizen33]

The Irrawaddy (Burma - web version available) is reporting that Telenor, the owner of DTAC, was instructed to block Facebook for a brief period.

The original source is the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten.

[citizen33]

It seems that exposing fibs is disrespectful and will attract punishment.

http://en.khaosod.co.th/detail.php?newsid=1402471813

[T_Dog]

It seems that exposing fibs is disrespectful and will attract punishment.

http://en.khaosod.co.th/detail.php?newsid=1402471813

Worrisome times if communication is controlled like the quote in the article. Glad to see the truth out on this topic from the Norwegians.

"Pol.Maj.Gen Amnuay Nimmano, Deputy Commander of Bangkok Metropolitan Police, went as far as warning the public that "liking" Facebook pages that criticise the military coup could be considered a criminal offense."