Thai group wants 'digital economy' bills scrapped, rewritten by affected parties

[webfact]

Group wants 'digital economy' bills scrapped, rewritten by affected parties
ASINA PORNWASIN
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- A GROUP of concerned organisations yesterday joined forces to oppose the 10 "digital economy" bills being pushed by the government, demanding that they all be scrapped and rewritten by all parties involved.

The group comprises the Thai Netizen Network, the Thailand Association of the Blind, the Green World Foundation, FTA Watch, the Foundation for Community Education Media, and the Civil Media Development Institute.

These 10 laws, if enacted, would not help drive the digital economy, but would instead set up obstacles, said Arthit Suriyawongkul, coordinator of the Thai Netizen Network.

He added that the group of organisations wanted these bills to be scrapped and re-drafted with participation from all stakeholders in society. The group will submit this proposal to the National Reform Council, the Law Reform Commission of Thailand and the Council of State.

Arthit said there were two main points of concern: the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission and its funds; and the cyber-security bill. The bill on assigning radio frequencies and regulating the broadcasting and telecommunications services would, in effect, destroy the independence of the NBTC, he said. "This bill says the NBTC has to conform with the regulations of the National Digital Commission for the Economy and Society, which means that the commission will be dominated by the government rather than being independent," he said. "This bill also says that the NBTC's fund used to serve research and development for the public, disabled and disadvantaged people and benefits for the elderly would now be used to fund the government and private-sector loans."

Meanwhile, the cyber-security bill would allow the authorities to set up committees that would be able to access the personal data of people across all forms and formats without court orders, which would damage the confidence of businesses, which in turn might move their investments from Thailand to other countries.

He claimed these bills were not related to a digital economy, but were actually a set of national-security laws. Also, he said, these bills had been drafted and passed by the Cabinet without the participation of direct stakeholders such as the NBTC and the public sector.

As for the bill on assigning radio frequencies and regulating broadcasting and telecommunications services, he said it would pull radio frequencies away from the public and put them under the control of the government and the Army. "The overall idea behind these bills is to destroy the principle of radio frequencies being a national resource for the public benefit and to destroy the freedom of competitiveness. It seems as if these bills are for the government and the Army, rather than being bills for a digital economy," he said. These 10 bills were passed by the military-appointed Cabinet last week and are in the process of being submitted to the National Legislative Assembly, also set up by the Army after it seized power last year.

Activists say these bills would abuse human rights and allow the authorities to monopolise the resources if passed into law. This is because there are many points in the bills that allow the military regime to manipulate national resources, especially radio frequencies, while reducing the importance of the public sector. This is also reflected in the composition of several committees - in which the number of civil-society representatives has been cut down and the number of government officials increased.

The 10 bills are

Establishment of the National Digital Commission for the Economy and Society

Ministerial restructuring

New computer crime

New electronics transaction

Personal data protection

Cyber-security

Digital economy promotion

Digital economy development fund

Establishment of the electronics transaction development agency

National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Group-wants-digital-economy-bills-scrapped-rewritt-30251904.html


-- The Nation 2015-01-15

[BSJ]

Ah, the recent talks with North Korea are starting to pay dividends! We can't have those pesky netizens helping draft new laws....about the net.

[15Peter20]

It feels like the army is trying to nail down the country in anticipation of something big happening.

[DKUNPUTAF713]

15Peter20:

Did you just this moment wake up????

[yellowboat]

Meanwhile, the cyber-security bill would allow the authorities to set up committees that would be able to access the personal data of people across all forms and formats without court orders, which would damage the confidence of businesses, which in turn might move their investments from Thailand to other countries.------IF THEY HAVE NOT DONE SO ALREADY !

[rickirs]

"He added that the group of organisations wanted these bills to be scrapped and re-drafted with participation from all stakeholders in society."

The Junta installed a government and now writing a new constitution without participation from all the stakeholders in society. Why should the digital economy laws be any different? Welcome to the new "Thai democracy."