Thailand needs a set of standards to ensure Internet good governance

[webfact]

INTERNET
'Set of standards needed for good Net governance'
WASAMON AUDJARINT
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THAILAND needs a set of standards to ensure Internet good governance, given the fast-changing Internet landscape whose details were still being debated, a forum on Internet governance was told yesterday.

The forum at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Communication Arts was joined by public telecommunications regulators, Internet Service Providers (ISP) and NGOs. They discussed the possible shape of Internet governance in Thailand and many expressed concern.

Sarinee Achavanuntakul, representative from the Thai Netizen Network, an Internet watchdog, pointed out that Internet governance was essential to cope with today's fast-changing online world. She cited the reality of the Internet of Things (IoT), a scenario in which many objects were equipped with the ability to transfer data over the network, as a key agenda that would transform the IT landscape and require a standard of governance.

"It is estimated that by 2020, there'll be 50 billion devices under IoT criteria. That's a serious amount of connectivity," she said, adding the government should participate more in facilitating online industries and help shape IT law and make it more tangible.

ISP should also offer support, as they are the biggest digital actors in controlling all Internet traffic flow, said the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commissioner Supinya Klangnarong. She cited another technical term - 'Internet neutrality' - a principle that ISPs and governments should treat all online data equally.

"We haven't had much progress on IT legislation so far, as we are still unable to define what 'net neutrality' should be in a Thai context." she said.

Internet governance could possibly be developed 'naturally' through an IT market mechanism, Anan Ratchatamuttha from Advanced Info Service, an Internet provider, claimed - "because real players know it best, so we together can create norms that understand the nature of the IT world the most".

Telephone Organization of Thailand's representative Rungsun Channarukul called for a principle of fairness - that customers should have fair access to data and be able to obtain it at a fair price, as well as complying with fair regulations.

Thana Tangsitphakdi from CAT Telecom suggested "vibrant, dynamic" IT regulations "as the world always keeps changing, so perhaps fixed rules may not work with this case".

Pichit Kaewmakoon of DTAC, another Internet provider firm, expressed doubts on how to set a standard for customer prioritisation in the currently tangled Internet traffic.

"Should customers who pay more be given the 'fast lane', a higher Internet speed that may exploit other customers' channels? It is still being questioned as to how we're going to define the term 'fairness', and eventually the term 'neutrality'."

Wasu Khunwasi from True Internet, another private Internet provider, thought cultural and social factors would play a part in defining what constituted Internet neutrality.

The forum was also organised by the Southeast Asian Press Alliance, Thai Netizen Network and iLaw.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Set-of-standards-needed-for-good-Net-governance-30265126.html


-- The Nation 2015-07-24

[Tatsujin]

"We haven't had much progress on IT legislation so far, as we are still unable to define what 'net neutrality' should be in a Thai context." she said.

What a bunch of children, here you go: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Net_neutrality

Of course, that won't work here given the restrictions on saying or doing anything currently and probably long into the future.

[quandow]

'Set of standards needed for good Net governance'

No, they aren't.

[oneday]

No censorship = good Net governance.

Edited July 24, 2015 by oneday

[Kannikapor88]

Too busy ready Daily Mail to be concerned about their blah blah blah, junglenation ....

[soalbundy]

No, Thailand just needs a set of standards per se

[bamnutsak]

The NLA is about to pass a set of bills under the "Digital Economy and Society" moniker. These have been drafted, more or less, in secret.

1. National Digital Committee for Economy and Society Bill

2. Ministry of Digital for Economy and Society Bill

3. Electronic Transaction Bill (amendment)

4. Computer-related Crime Bill (amendment)

5. Cybersecurity Bill

6. Personal Data Protection Bill

7. Digital Economy Promotion Bill

8. Digital Development for Economy and Society Fund Bill

9. Broadcasting and Telecommunication Regulator Bill (amendment)

10. Electronic Transaction Development Agency Bill (amendment)

Digital economy plan to take shape when related bill passes

Two related draft bills - the Digital Economy Bill and the National Broadcasting and Telecommunica-tions Commission Bill - have been reviewed by the Council of State and will go to the Cabinet and then to the NLA.

The Digital Economy Bill is the consolidation of the Digital Economy Committee Establishment Bill, Digital Economy Fund Bill and Digital Economy Development and Promotion Bill. The Council of State has nearly finished its review of three draft bills - the Electronic Transactions Bill, Electronic Transactions Development Agency Establishment Bill and Personal Data Protection Bill.

The last draft bills - the Computer Crime Bill and National Cyber Security Bill - are still being assessed by the Council of State.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Digital-economy-plan-to-take-shape-when-related-bi-30259835.html

This will establish another new Ministry (MDES), and countless new commissions, committees, agencies, divisions and councils. Most independent organizations feel this additional bureaucracy will actually impede Thailand's IT future. More than 20,000 signatures have been gathered protesting this "legislation", and the Army has "crashed" symposiums held to discuss this legislation.

[elgordo38]

'Set of standards needed for good Net governance'

No, they aren't.

Contact China they are experts in this field.

[Hornyskunk]

I grew up with the internet. I'm with these guys: