Concern over new law on computer crime

RSF said the militaryinstalled government's fight against pornography has resulted in an increasingly restrictive policy towards online free expression.

RSF called on Bangkok to combat online criminality and sexual exploitation of human beings without committing new violations of free speech or personal privacy.

Within this concern, the RSF also expressed concerned over the requirement to have the Internet Service Providers to keep online data of each Internet users for 90 days.

The law empowered the authorities to examine this information without any judicial approval if they suspect there was illegal use.

Though the law was aimed at preventing computer's owners from transmitting pornographic or libellous message but there are still some contradictions.

RSF quoted Supinya Klangnarong, a member of the Freedom Against Censorship in Thailand (FACT), described the law as "a threat and violation of privacy."

FACT said the measures "Do not aim to prevent, as [the authorities] claim, but to control," adding that the range of websites banned by the government went far beyond the requirements of the fight against pornography and "insults" to the monarchy." //The Nation