Featured stories about Thailand
Stories about Thailand
Thailand’s new ministerial decree could further suppress free speech online
The new decree is “another tool of control for the authorities to silence critical dissent, and a reflection of the digital dictatorship in Thailand.”
Indonesia's new penal code revisions don't just threaten sexual freedoms
Indonesia's recent penal code revisions threaten journalists, free speech, bodily autonomy and more — severely undermining democracy in the region.
Thai protesters demand the abolition of royal defamation law
"We believe it would be better to live in a society where people are not imprisoned for simply expressing their political opinions, for demanding a better society..."
Thai woman receives 43-year sentence for sharing audio clips ‘defaming’ the monarchy
"Although her sentence was reduced to 43 years, it’s still too harsh & unnecessary cruel. Should a defamation case land someone several decades in jail?"
Human rights defenders and journalists under attack in Southeast Asia
The past two weeks saw several disturbing cases of arrests, convictions, and raids targeting human rights activists and journalists in Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Vietnam.
Moderate globally, impact locally: A series on content moderation in the Global South
''Even as the platforms have grown and spread around the world, the center of gravity of these debates continues to revolve around D.C. and San Francisco.''
A glimpse at Thailand's digital ID through the biometric profiling of Malay Muslims
"The discriminatory nature of these measures could amount to racial profiling, which subjects Malay Muslims to disproportionate and unnecessary surveillance based on ethnic prejudice rather than objective signs of suspicion."
Thai journalist convicted over a 2017 Twitter post about a labor conflict
"There is a high level of self-censorship in Thailand… When you forbid freedom of expression… you forbid an open society."
Thai Twitter users face threats over comments on royal motorcade
The hashtag #royalmotorcade trended in Thailand after netizens reported traffic problems caused by a royal motorcade.
What will it take to combat digital authoritarianism in Southeast Asia?
"Applied to the Philippines and the rest of Southeast Asia, digital authoritarianism refers to how the internet has been weaponized in aid of existing authoritarian regimes."
Thai Journalist and Two Other Critics of Military-Led Government Face Sedition Charges Over Facebook Posts
"I will continue to criticize the illegitimate military regime until they take away my smartphone."
At Thailand's Request, YouTube Blocks Video Clip of Charlie Chaplin’s ‘The Great Dictator’
"Juntaland's dictator blocking Charlie Chaplin's satirical film mocking dictator is hilariously insane and dictatorial," wrote a journalist on Twitter.
Thailand Threatens to Take Facebook to Court Over Anti-Monarchy Posts
Tha Thailand government has given Facebook until Tuesday, May 16, 2017, to remove the 131 remaining 'anti-monarchy' posts.
Thailand Tells Internet Users to Unfollow Junta Critics on Social Media — Or Face Consequences
"This is a ridiculous and oppressive order but I don't want any innocent people being targeted just because they follow my journalism," wrote former Reuters journalist Andrew MacGregor Marshall.
Thai Media Groups Say Proposed Law Could Bring Total Government Control of the Press
"Government presence on a press panel and licensing of journalists are never part of a free press."
Thailand’s New Computer Crimes Law Threatens Free Speech and Encryption
"The law's most serious shortcoming is in its giving too much power for authorities to make their own judgement whether certain actions may be deemed in violation of the law."
Activist Arrested on Royal Insult Charges for Sharing BBC Article About Thailand's New King
Almost 2,500 Facebook users shared the post, but the police singled out an activist calling for the restoration of democracy in Thailand.
‘This Is a 99.99 Percent Democracy’ and Other Orwellian Newspeak by Thailand's Junta
"The closer to the August referendum, the more intense intimidation gets."
As Constitutional Referendum Nears, Thailand Intensifies Censorship
"If Thailand's military junta wants its referendum to be seen as credible, it must stop harassing journalists covering the campaign and let information flow freely to the public."
Posting Photos of Red Bowls on Facebook Is Now Deemed Seditious by the Thai Junta
"The Thai junta’s fears of a red plastic bowl show its intolerance of dissent has reached the point of absolute absurdity."
