THE COMMITTEE drafting the new computer crime law of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) acknowledged pressing concerns over Internet rights but cited the need to balance rights with cyber-crime investigations as well as national security. Article 14 prohibits the posting of “false” information, or any information that is deemed to be a threat to national security. A growing number of people have been charged with computer crimes since the coup in 2014. The groups, including the Internet Law Reform Dialogue (iLaw) and Thai Netizen Network (TNW), jointly monitored the NLA’s forum via Facebook live and discussed how the currently amended act threatened people’s lives. The revised version would give authorities sweeping powers to arbitrarily use the law against online users and Internet providers in a widened scope of offences, including defamation.

Source: The Nation Bangkok November 23, 2016 18:02 UTC