THAILAND: Self censorship plagues net

Website operators impose stricter content controls, such as deleting forum topics they judge incendiary, due to the 2007 Computer Crimes Act

Bangkok Post
Thursday, May 28, 2009

By Penchan Charoensuthipan

Fear of severe penalties for breaching security regulations have led to many internet-based public forums adopting a policy of self-censorship, a seminar was told yesterday.

The 2007 Computer Crimes Act which allows officials to shut websites and jail the operators have forced webmasters to impose stricter content controls.

"They use their own judgement to decide which questions and replies in the forums are dangerous and then delete them to avoid problems," said Sarinee Achawanantakul of Thai Netizen Network, a group of internet users campaigning for cyber community rights.

Internet service providers made things worse, Ms Sarinee said. Some toe the state line by helping officials block websites which they consider inappropriate.

"But these methods are not effective," Ms Sarinee told a seminar held at Thammasat University to mark the launch of a website featuring the life of university founder Pridi Banomyong, a former prime minister and statesman.

She said the methods only violated rights to expression of opinion. The government and website operators should respond to groundless content by correcting facts and using technicians to track those who were involved.

The government is closely watching websites which serve as forums on social and political issues after they became popular channels. Some had become so powerful they could direct public opinion or cause changes in society, said media scholar Ubonrat Siriyuwasak.

More appropriate actions to regulate these websites would benefit people as "net power and email forwarding draws public participation in helping to decide some state policies", Ms Ubonrat said.

Two cases related to internet-related offences have stood out. Prachatai operator Jiranut Premchaiporn was charged on March 6 after she allegedly failed to delete inappropriate words.

Internet user Suwicha Thakhor became the first casualty of the Computer Crimes Act when jailed for posting an edited photo on his blog deemed defamatory to His Majesty the King.

Date Posted: 5/28/2009