2 replies to this topic

[B.I.G.]

"The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has conceded it can do nothing about some of the content of the YouTube website considered as lese majeste and against the Thai monarchy, apart from seeking cooperation from the webmaster.

Speaking at a seminar between the DSI and webmasters, Pol Col Yarnpol Yangyuen, the chief of the DSI's office of technology cases and examination centre, said YouTube is an international website based in another country, so the DSI cannot take legal action against it for lese majeste. But the DSI has asked YouTube's webmasters to block such content on their website and expects to soon reach agreement about the lese majeste content on the site, said Pol Col Yarnpol.

The Surayud Chulanont government last year slapped a ban on YouTube after clips about the royal family were posted on the site. The ban was later lifted after YouTube operator Google agreed to install filters to bar people in Thailand from gaining access to those clips. However, some controversial content remains on the website.

Pol Col Yarnpol also said that the DSI would not meddle with politically motivated websites and would maintain its neutrality. He added that the DSI would not take action against the publication of internet content aimed at discrediting politicians or websites considered as politically motivated.

''The department does not want to become a political tool for any political group [by interfering in politically-motivated websites],'' said Pol Col Yarnpol. Police have the authority to take action if the content of any websites are found to be illegal, he said."

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/26Apr2008_news09.php

[Hedda]

"Police have the authority to take action if the content of any websites are found to be illegal, he said."

True, except the police are not supposed to be acting as prosecutor, judge and jury in the matter, removing things from the internet without the slightest pretense of due process. According to what I read about all those new laws passed by the junta's rump parliament, internet censorship is supposed to get a judge's approval before it occurs.

It was clear when the junta stumbled into the flap with YouTube last year over alleged lese majeste, that they had badly miscalculated the disastrous PR aspects of their actions. Their attempts to extricate themselves from the situation by trying to block YouTube in Thailand and then lifting the ineffectual ban by claiming that YouTube had, in effect, agreed to censor the site for "possible lese majeste" have proven to be contrived or fatuous. Let's hope they have learned a lesson.

[NYCGuy]

Let's hope they have learned a lesson.

Not very probable. TIT. The only way that the Thai ruling class can maintain their hold on power is to control the mass media to propagandize the masses. They already control everything you see on TV. They are not likely to stop trying to exercise the same controls over the internet.