Thai internet censorship gone crazy
After Kitty’s recent blog post with not one, but two Avril Lavigne videos, the powers that be decided enough was enough and they have now blocked our access to Youtube altogether. Of all the ridiculous, self-serving, futile, redundant, irritating things they could have done, this has got to be right up there with them. It just goes to show that sometimes you can’t argue with the way things are in this country; you just have to grin and bear it. Visiting Youtube now takes us to the enormously dull Ministry of Information and Technology (MICT) website.
The justification for blocking Youtube is the 44-second video that depicts HMtK in disrespectful circumstances (actually nothing to do with Kitty’s Avril videos). I can understand the outrage at this video (I didn’t see it myself, but a friend of mine did and he said it was shocking). However, blocking the whole of one of the most popular websites in the world is pushing it a bit. You can, after all, still order that book about HMtK without the entire postal service being banned.
Sitthichai Pookaiyaudom, the minister of information and technology, said: “People who create these (websites) are abusing their rights and clearly don’t mean well for the country. We have closed many and will continue to.”
Speaking of an abuse of rights, when will the MICT define the criteria it uses to block the thousands of other sites that we can’t access? Using national security as a reason doesn’t hold much weight. Actually, the MICT justified its blocking of websites by saying it was acting under martial law. That would be great… if the MICT hadn’t forgotten about everything that happened before September 19.
One thing that will make me sleep easily is the fact that members of the Council for National Security (CNS) recently received a 30% pay rise, according to The Nation. Apparently they deserve it because they’ve worked hard every day and have not had a break, even on public holidays. Someone should remind the CNS that overthrowing a government takes a bit of graft, even on public holidays. There is the entire country to manage after all.
I haven’t had much leave since September 19. I must ask my boss for a pay rise tomorrow.
Sign the petition against internet censorship in Thailand
Techno’ tags: MICT, Internet censorship, Bangkok, Thailand
April 5th, 2007 at 12:39 am
Matt, I agree with the motives behind what the Government has done, especially if as reported they did ask YouTube to remove it and their request was refused. I’ve seen far less inflamatory videos removed and I think their refusal shows a distinct lack of knowledge about laws and customs in this part of the world.
What I don’t agree with is the way it has been done. It is possible from a technical point of view to ban just that one page without the need to ban the whole site, and all the negative press coverage that goes with it.
April 5th, 2007 at 1:47 am
It’s not just that particular video, there’s a political angle here too. There are far worse videos on youtube.com from a Thai point of view, including a very harrowing clip of what the soldiers did in Tak Bai and several concerning land grab in the north. If they removed just that one the others would continue and the problem (from a government point of view) would continue.
Regardless of what the video shows how can such levels of censorship ever be right in a “democracy” that claims to have freedom of speech. I personally think Thai people are mature enough to make up their own minds about what they see or read and I’m sure that no Thai would change his/her opinion of the monarchy based on viewing that video.
From the outside Thailand is starting to look worryingly like Burma.
April 5th, 2007 at 2:39 am
I agree. You cannot censor the internet. I wouldn’t surprised if the video appeared on MySpace video now or somewhere else. Blocking the website accomplishes nothing. It would have been possible to block the URL for that one particular video, but even that is pointless.
And yes, there are far worse videos out there, on Youtube and elsewhere. If I recall correctly, the MICT was looking to block Youtube before. Blocking Yuotube does not boost Thailand’s image. All it does is block Thailand’s access to resources while the entire world will now see the video because of the publicity it has generated.
April 5th, 2007 at 5:45 am
I saw both of them. I’d post it if y’all can access to my blog…oh wait, I don’t want Thai government to shut me down too. Then you guys can’t come see me!
First of all, the video claims to be done for that idiot who got jailed for les majeste.
Hi. You respect local law. This guy did not and get jailed. Justice is served. Back the hell off of our law. WE want to honor our K. Leave us alone. For crying out loud!
And about blocking youtube? Stupidest idea ever. See how successful that was with trying to shut down the internet after the coup? Uh-huh. Sure.
*sigh*
April 5th, 2007 at 6:48 am
I agree that the internet should not be censored when it comes to political opinions to allow freedom of speech. In fact, I signed the FACT petition a few months ago. However, this case cannot and should not be argued as ‘freedom of speech’. As anyone living in Thailand will know, the K is highly respected by the whole nation. He earned the respect through what he had done and not because of the laws imposed.
Many videos of Thaksin in many places (such as Sydney and Tokyo), some very critical of Prem, the CNS and the current government were uploaded 2 weeks ago. If the ban was because of these, it would have been at least a week ago.
The banning of the whole site might be to ’spark’ a message to YouTube, “hey listen to us or you’ll lose the whole Thai audience”. On the bright side, at least MICT came out and openly admit to the ban this time.
April 5th, 2007 at 7:58 am
But nobody is disputing that the video is bad. The video will always exist, be it on Youtube or somewhere else. You cannot censor the internet. The way that Youtube works, I suspect that even if the video was removed it would be added once more by the same or another person. This is just an ugly situation that no real good can come out of. It would have been better to ignore the video than block the entire website. Blocking websites constricts freedom of speech, even if only secondarily. Now the whole world is curious about that particular video.
April 5th, 2007 at 8:48 am
*sigh*… i miss youtube… :(
April 5th, 2007 at 5:07 pm
I’ve emailed Google asking for confirmation that they were contacted with a request to remove the offending video and am yet to receive a response. I’ve heard the MICT contacted Google, but I honestly don’t believe anything MICT say so I’ll wait until Google confirms it.
Let’s face it though, Google removing the video would have been an act of courtesy only (they’re not required to unless the copyright holder requests it) and would fail to address the two major issues behind our current state of events.
1. Thai people are treated like sheep by their own government/s as if they’re unable to make up their own minds, needing to be saved from exposure to such material (at the cost of tax-payer, I might add).
2. If MICT continues on it’s current path there won’t be much internet left to look at soon. Except the government approved sites of course.
PS Of course MICT have proudly admitted to blocking Youtube this time - protecting the image of the king is a popular move.
April 6th, 2007 at 4:35 am
And the result is that now a worst video (didn’t think it was possible, but bad taste knows no limit) has been posted.