Thailand’s army chief said that the Army Cyber Center will closely monitor news deemed defamatory to the Thai Monarchy.
On 1 November 2016, Gen Chalermchai Suthisad, Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Army (RTA), said that the army will use its cyber centers to monitor distorted news from within and outside the country, especially news which violate Article 112 of the Criminal Code, the lèse majesté law, Matichon Online reported.
He added that people should be cautious before sharing news and online contents, which could harm certain individuals and the nation.
When asked if the army’s effort to monitor lèse majesté online contents will also affect academic works, the RTA commander said “We will have to proceed in accordance to Article 112 on anything which could affect the [Thai] Monarchy. The cyber world contains both facts and fictions, so if people don’t know the facts they should not share the news.”
Last week, the Thai police said that they have investigated 20 cases of lèse majesté since the passing of King Bhumibol Adulyadej on 13 October 2016, according to a spokesperson from the Royal Thai Police.
According to ACM Prajin Junthong, the caretaker Minister for Digital Economy and Society (DE), the authorities also requested Google, Youtube, Line and Facebook for cooperation to monitor lèse majesté contents online.
The authorities will publish a report on the suppression of online lèse majesté contents on 1 November, Prajin added then.
