Liking the wrong picture on facebook can get you 32 years in prison? In thailand it can

[AlTech]

Thai people have just had some hatred brought upon them by their government. If they like the wrong picture on facebook they may get 32 years in prison.

 

 

 

Americans can take solace in the fact that no matter whom they elect next year to lead the country, they will still be allowed to make fun of the person in charge. Not so in Thailand, where insulting the royal family can draw convictions of up to 15 years in prison per infraction under the country’s strict lèse majesté law.

 

 

In August, a 48-year-old Thai man was sentenced to 30 years in prison for Facebook activity deemed insulting to the monarchy, a record sentence at the time, according to a quote from the man’s lawyer in the Guardian. And Glyn Davies, the US ambassador to Thailand, is currentlyunder investigation for criticizing the country in comments he made at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand on Nov. 25.

 

 

And now comes the case of Thai factory worker Thanakorn Siripaiboon, who was arrested at his home in the Samut Prakan province, south of Bangkok, on Dec. 10 and charged with sedition, cyber crime, and the defaming of Thailand’s 88-year-old king, Bhumibol Adulyadej,

“On December 2, he clicked ‘Like’ link on a doctored photo of the King and shared it with 608 friends,” Col Burin Thongprapai, legal officer for the National Council for Peace and Order, told AFP.

This is really stupid! Why are we censoring the internet? Why? I get that trolls are evil and need this. But regular ordinary people? HELL NO!

http://qz.com/570804/liking-the-wrong-picture-on-facebook-can-get-you-32-years-of-prison-in-thailand/

[VAkena]

Whatever happened to Freedom of Speech? A fundamental world-wide standard. 

[Centurius]

It's not really a case of 'censoring the internet', it's Thai law. Extremely strict and not of this time and age but still a fairly well known law.

[ImBleu]

Not amused

 

 

Whatever happened to Freedom of Speech?

 

That's not exactly a global thing.

[AresKrieger]

Thailand is odd to say the least

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocn0uNv3vMg

 

John oliver is considered a threat to their monarchy or something after a couple of satirical commentaries.

[VAkena]

That's not exactly a global thing.

When it was introduced the intention was for it to be global, but not every nation agreed - some despised it because their authority could be questioned 

[AlwaysFSX]

It's not really a case of 'censoring the internet', it's Thai law. Extremely strict and not of this time and age but still a fairly well known law.

It's a dumb law though.

[Whorax]

Reality check: in some places on this planet you get punished for speaking out against authorities.

[The Official Czex]

Whatever happened to Freedom of Speech? A fundamental world-wide standard. 

 

Land of Thai certainly ain't no 'Merica.

[Trik'Stari]

This is what TOR is for.

[totjup5]

Whatever happened to Freedom of Speech? A fundamental world-wide standard.

It never was a global thing....

[PerfectTemplar]

It never was a global thing....

It's been a global thing for decades...

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Declaration_of_Human_Rights

[RagnarokDel]

It's been a global thing for decades...

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Declaration_of_Human_Rights

On paper yes, in practice, not really.

[Bouzoo]

Liked and shared a picture, is treated as a cyber criminal. Wow. Just wow. 

[RedRound2]

Im surprised no one knew this. In middle east, saying something bad about the royal family through messenger ro whatsapp can get you arrested

[HarmFull]

Thailand can be such a weird country when it comes to their laws.

[Castdeath97]

Im surprised no one knew this. In middle east, saying something bad about the royal family through messenger ro whatsapp can get you arrested

Can confirm, you can get arrested not only for insulting the King, but even for speaking negatively about a ministry (no I'm not joking)/

 

Ohh wait, no I didn't say anything, shhhh.

[Tomsen]

This is what TOR is for.

To like images on facebook? Don't think tor will help you there 

[Master Disaster]

Whatever happened to Freedom of Speech? A fundamental world-wide standard. 

 

Freedom of speech is an American right under the US Constitution, it doesn't apply anywhere else in the world despite how many people seem to believe it does.

 

Here in the UK for example, its legal to protest against things (even this is against the law under certain circumstances), freedom of the press is protected by law (that is to print stories that they think are in the public interest, media outlets still have to abide by UK law in their activities) and also parody and critique are protected by law. Outside of that the police can arrest you for saying things they think you shouldn't be saying under the Public Order section of our Law Documentation.

[NAP51DMustang]

It's been a global thing for decades...

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Declaration_of_Human_Rights

you realize that that declaration holds no water at all right? it literally means nothing.

[Lewellyn]

who was arrested at his home in the Samut Prakan province, south of Bangkok, on Dec. 10 and charged with sedition, cyber crime, and the defaming of Thailand’s 88-year-old king, Bhumibol Adulyadej,

 

Ah! Good day, Citizen! Internet Processing Unit 232.7 is on-line and ready to eradicate sedition!

[GoldSrc]

I never knew Thailand was that strict dumb.

[Guest Kloaked]

It's been a global thing for decades...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Declaration_of_Human_Rights

You really can't expect these other countries to abide by standard practices that America and other advanced nations have.

For example, there was an incident also in Thailand iirc for a League of Legends tournament that banned transgenders from competing or some such. Genna Bain (Totalbiscuit's wife) ranted on Twitter saying something along the lines of "I'm sorry, what world are we living in?" as if she expected every place in the world to be as free as her country. It's naive to think this.

As much as people, even Americans, shit on America, we're more free to do and say what we want than any other place in the world under the law.

[PerfectTemplar]

You really can't expect these other countries to abide by standard practices that America and other advanced nations have.

For example, there was an incident also in Thailand iirc for a League of Legends tournament that banned transgenders from competing or some such. Genna Bain (Totalbiscuit's wife) ranted on Twitter saying something along the lines of "I'm sorry, what world are we living in?" as if she expected every place in the world to be as free as her country. It's naive to think this.

As much as people, even Americans, shit on America, we're more free to do and say what we want than any other place in the world under the law.

My post wasn't to say that all countries abide by these International Laws, I was simply saying it is recognised globally as an International law/treaty. So to say it isn't a global thing is not true, it is. Whether or not it is in practice in all countries.

[Crowes]

Reality check: in some places on this planet you get punished for speaking out against authorities.

 

"We shouldn't have a reason to speak out at them."

 

Idealism dicates this would always be the case, but the truth is that you can't please everyone and not everyone will be happy with everything, therefore you can give them freedom of speech in hope they'll never have reason to use it, or void them of that freedom altogether so those who you've not pleased never can.