Thailand's govt pressures Facebook, Line to censor online posts

[webfact]

Thai junta pressures Facebook, Line to censor online posts

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's military government will try to persuade media companies Facebook and Line to comply with court orders to remove content it considers harmful to peace and order, a senior official said Sunday.

The junta-appointed NRSA advisory council plans to meet executives from the two companies in the next three months, council member Major General Pisit Paoin told Reuters.

The government has been granted court orders for the removal of content that damages the country and the monarchy and affects peace and order, which companies have rarely complied with. The firms would be asked to in future respond quickly to such rulings, he said.

Full story: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-internet-idUSKCN0V90LW


-- Reuters 2016-02-01

[thesetat2013]

I'm still confused about how they judge what content they could justifiably consider as harmful to the country. If I post about having to pay off a.policeman bribe or how I got forced to pay three times the fee or cost or if I post about how bad my trip in Thailand was or send a vdo of a chinaman pissing or shitting on the street doesn't that hurt Thailand's tourism, hence, damaging the country?

Or, if I posted a vdo of someone getting kidnapped by the army or of a business using slave Labour or even a girl on walking Street offering sex for money. All would.damage people view of Thailand in the gov viewpoint. So I guess my point is, if the line and fb jump to remove your content posted just because Thailand thinks it damages how they want people to think about them then all freedoms are gone and for anyone and in any country.

[ukrules]

This is a little different to an article I read yesterday.

The government have been requesting that content be removed from Google and other social media sites without a court order on a case by case basis. The reasoning is that it takes too long to go through the legal proceedings required to obtain such orders.

I read elsewhere that facebook mentioned the possibility of withdrawing service from Thailand for some reason or another which I won't repeat here.

[NongKhaiKid]

Censorship and control pure and simple.

[FourAces]

Facebook and all the other social media sites, including should be outlawed on a global scale

[never me]

I am lost for words.

Well not really its just that I cant put them on here.

[ukrules]

Facebook publish a transparency report from time to time which will make interesting reading as it lists the number of requests by country in a type of league table.

[canuckamuck]

This will be a perfect country as soon as they eliminate criticism.

[BSJ]

A world without Farcebook.....I'd like to see that!

[taff33]

Facebook and all the other social media sites, including should be outlawed on a global scale

. Anti social,you should start your own site.5555

[NongKhaiKid]

I am lost for words.

Well not really its just that I cant put them on here.

[tbthailand]

I'm still confused about how they judge what content they could justifiably consider as harmful to the country. If I post about having to pay off a.policeman bribe or how I got forced to pay three times the fee or cost or if I post about how bad my trip in Thailand was or send a vdo of a chinaman pissing or shitting on the street doesn't that hurt Thailand's tourism, hence, damaging the country?

Or, if I posted a vdo of someone getting kidnapped by the army or of a business using slave Labour or even a girl on walking Street offering sex for money. All would.damage people view of Thailand in the gov viewpoint. So I guess my point is, if the line and fb jump to remove your content posted just because Thailand thinks it damages how they want people to think about them then all freedoms are gone and for anyone and in any country.

I'm still confused about how they judge what content they could justifiably consider as harmful to the country.

Check out the people who have been arrested for sedition, LM, the computer crimes act, and for public gathering and you will have a good idea of what they consider harmful to the country.

Harmful to the country:

• taking a train
• being a student
• being a politician
• being related to the previous two
• hitting 'like'
• making fun of dogs
• sharing videos

Any other questions?

PS: you are right in your last statement... At least in the mind of the junta leaders, that is clearly the goal...

then all freedoms are gone and for anyone and in any country.

Edited February 1, 2016 by tbthailand

[Wilsonandson]

This is a little different to an article I read yesterday.

The government have been requesting that content be removed from Google and other social media sites without a court order on a case by case basis. The reasoning is that it takes too long to go through the legal proceedings required to obtain such orders.

I read elsewhere that facebook mentioned the possibility of withdrawing service from Thailand for some reason or another which I won't repeat here.

Internet org?

[ramrod711]

The government has picked a fight they can't win. Try to stifle free speech in the cyber world we live in, impossible. Win hearts and minds by arresting folks for sharing their thoughts, reprehensible.

[X pat]

Well here they go putting there mouth ahead of there brain agen,do you think they will ever learn.

[kandi]

I consider it high unlikely that Facebook or Google complies with these censorship requests. China tried more or less the same in 2010 with Google. Google moved the servers to Hong Kong and said they would rethink if they continue their service in China at all.

In May 2014, shortly after the coup, Thailand already tried what they're now trying again. Some military guys flew to Singapore to talk to them, but Google and co. didn't even want to meet them. Looks like it's really nagging the junta that there is an entity that can't be intimidated by lese majeste.

[kinmaew]

There is only one agenda here. I don't know why these companies bother with Thailand market its relatively small and would be best served from either Singapore or AUS/NZ, then they can sack all the Thai staff and they can then give thanks to their country for that (i.e. unemployment and further poverty)

[NongKhaiKid]

The government has picked a fight they can't win. Try to stifle free speech in the cyber world we live in, impossible. Win hearts and minds by arresting folks for sharing their thoughts, reprehensible.

What's it going to be like when the paranoia really sets in ?

[Jeffrey346]

Bottom line: The internet is open and free to all to post what they want. Requests to remove or block sites or content by any Government is not an acceptable practice.

A message to Google letting them know you disagree with sites / content being blocked may be an appropriate step. Court order or not, people/companies have the right to post their opinion.

Google Thailand Contact Info

http://www.google.co.th/contact/

[thesetat2013]

The government has picked a fight they can't win. Try to stifle free speech in the cyber world we live in, impossible. Win hearts and minds by arresting folks for sharing their thoughts, reprehensible.

Unfortunately, you are wrong! Just look at what goes into and out of N. Korea. Nothing!

[wow64]

They wont change it so just ban facebook all together.

China did.

Oh no wait then I will have to actually talk to my wife... Nooooooo.

Sent from my c64

[Card]

Censorship and control pure and simple.

....and fear

[MZurf]

The government has picked a fight they can't win. Try to stifle free speech in the cyber world we live in, impossible. Win hearts and minds by arresting folks for sharing their thoughts, reprehensible.

What's it going to be like when the paranoia really sets in ?

Ugly, really ugly.

[Artisi]

Facebook and all the other social media sites, including should be outlawed on a global scale

Starting with your removal from this "social media" site, so as not to be a hypocritical a_hole.....

[Artisi]

Well here they go putting there mouth ahead of there brain agen,do you think they will ever learn.

NO

[never me]

I am now having a lot of problems living in Thailand.

I call "A spayed a spade"

These days I have to keep my fingers off the keyboard.

[aussieinthailand]

I'm still confused about how they judge what content they could justifiably consider as harmful to the country. If I post about having to pay off a.policeman bribe or how I got forced to pay three times the fee or cost or if I post about how bad my trip in Thailand was or send a vdo of a chinaman pissing or shitting on the street doesn't that hurt Thailand's tourism, hence, damaging the country?

Or, if I posted a vdo of someone getting kidnapped by the army or of a business using slave Labour or even a girl on walking Street offering sex for money. All would.damage people view of Thailand in the gov viewpoint. So I guess my point is, if the line and fb jump to remove your content posted just because Thailand thinks it damages how they want people to think about them then all freedoms are gone and for anyone and in any country.

"I'm still confused", Ok no worries mate I'll show you where you got it a little wrong ok. "justifiably"

Now who run's the country? the Junta.

Who the head of the junta?

Who gave himself immunity for past present and future?

Who gave himself supreme powers of article 44.

So now it could be that anything that they decide can be seen as negatively impacting on Thai reputation is at question.

Also it could be suggested that not happy with controlling the people of the land, they now want control of everyone and anyone around the world that comments/share's/click's like/photo's/video's/or any other form of communication on FB/Line that they don't like to be censored.

So due to the new and current rules here I wonder how far TVF will go? Just asking a legit question fella's

[MZurf]

Facebook and all the other social media sites, including should be outlawed on a global scale

Starting with your removal from this "social media" site, so as not to be a hypocritical a_hole.....

Yep, epic egg on face post from FourAces. Never did understand people who want to outlaw everything they don't like. Bunch of <deleted> if you ask me.

[sandrew33]

Hang on, don't they have 93% support and happiness has never been higher; tourism is setting records .... Why the need to crackdown on people chatting?

[metisdead]

Baiting posts have been removed.