The Thai Digital Federation urged the lawmakers to amend the draft of the Computer Crime Bill, saying that it opens space for the authorities to suppress the rights to freedom of expressions.
Representatives of the Thai Digital Federation (TDF), such as Chawarong Limpatthamapanee, TDF advisor, Kanokporn Prasitphon, chairwoman of the Online News Providers Association (SONP), and Suppaseth Chuchaisri, chairman of Thai Programmer Association, on Thursday, 25 August 2016, submitted a letter to Pol Gen Chatchawan Suksomjit, head of the subcommittee for the amendment of the 2007 Computer Crime Act of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA).
The letter asks the NLA subcommittee who is currently reviewing the new Computer Crime Bill to amend certain clauses of the bill as it could lead to violations of the rights to freedom of expressions and information in the name of national security.
Article 20(4) of the new Computer Crime Bill gives authorities to the committee to filter information in the computer system appointed by the Minister of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) to censor “online information which are not illegal, but could cause instability and affect good public morale.”
The MICT committee, however, will have to obtain the court’s approval before censoring or removing such online information.
The TDF pointed out that the authorities could obviously use the bill to limit the rights and liberties of the people, adding that the bill will also ironically affect the development of the digital industry and economy which the government is trying to develop.
Pol Gen Chatchawan accepted the letter from the group and said that the committee will consider the group’s suggestion in the process the amend the 2007 Computer Crime Act.
Last year, Suwapan Tanyuwattana, Minister of the Prime Minister's Office, told the press that the Computer Crime Act amendment is intended to add more severe penalties for computer crimes related to national security.
“[The committee] has considered increasing the penalties in cases related to national security, especially the use of the internet which affects national security,” Blognone quoted Suwapan. “We want this law to be enacted as soon as possible. [We believe] that it will be up-to-date for the current circumstances.”