Internet freedom in Thailand is now as bad as in Burma

[buksida]

FREEDOM HOUSE’S latest ‘Freedom on the Net’ report makes for worrying reading, especially for web users in Asia, with China rated as having the least free internet in the world and web freedom in Thailand falling sharply under military rule.

Against a backdrop of worldwide erosion of internet freedom, Asian countries fared among the worst. The Internet in only two Asian countries – Japan and the Philippines – was rated as ‘Free’.

Not surprisingly, serial offender China was rated as the nation with the most restricted internet.

“The aim of establishing control was particularly evident in the [Chinese] government’s attitude toward foreign internet companies, its undermining of digital security protocols, and its ongoing erosion of user rights, including through extralegal detentions and the imposition of prison sentences for online speech,” the report said.

Southeast Asian nations showed a worrying drop in overall online freedom, with military ruled Thailand plunging to a rank of ‘63’, level with Burma (Myanmar), and worse than Russia.

“More Thai internet users were harassed and arrested during the coverage period than ever before in the wake of the 2014 coup,” the report said.

The report named Thailand’s proposed single gateway and increased arrests and longer sentences for lese majeste offences among the chief causes behind Thailand’s poor rating.

Most Southeast Asian nations were rated as ‘Partly Free’, with the Philippines the only ASEAN nation credited with truly’Free’ internet.

Overall, the report found that worldwide internet freedom has declined for the fifth consecutive year “as more governments censored information of public interest while also expanding surveillance and cracking down on privacy tools.”

Source: Asian Correspondent

Report: Freedom House

[Don]

It IS quite worrying to me. Though, I'm curious about Lese Majesty offences. I wonder how serious or simple the offences were. It's hardly unknown that these laws exist.

[Bluesky]

It is something to be quite mindful of generally and when using any form of electronic communication or social media. There was probably only about half a dozen cases before the Thai Courts regarding charges of lese majeste (apologies no grave acute or circumflex on my keyboard) between 1990 and 2005. The number of charges since then has increased exponetially. Comments or actions made either seriously or in jest can cause you grief. I have include an example of a recent matter on Facebook.


http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/a ... n-facebook

[STEVE G]

It IS quite worrying to me. Though, I'm curious about Lese Majesty offences. I wonder how serious or simple the offences were. It's hardly unknown that these laws exist.

Serious enough apparently to warrant a sixty year jail sentence, halved to thirty on a guilty plea:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-33819814

[Deep Blue]

Anything with porn in the internet site's name is blocked.

[Don]

Ok Steve good point.
By the way I do know it's not Majesty. Spellcheck.