In 2007 Thailand enacted the controversial Computer Crime Act, a law that has since been the subject of heated discussion. Critics say it has been used not only to protect internet users from common computer crimes, but to also to block websites which provide political information and allow debates. 

Illegal activities under the law include inputting obscene data; forged or false data likely to cause injury to another person, the public or national security; and data which constitute a criminal offense relating to national security or terrorism (section 14). 

Criminal liability is extended to Internet Service Providers that intentionally support or consent to these illegal activities (section 15). The most prominent example was the case against Chiranuch Premchaiporn, the Director of Thai news website Prachatai. She was given an eight-month suspended sentence in May for not taking down comments deemed insulting to the monarchy posted on her site.

There is no reliable official data on the implementation of the Computer Crime Act, so ilaw and researchers from the Thammasat University analyzed the cases under the CCA from July 2007 to December 2011 and studied the problems resulting from the law and its enforcement. The study also includes a comparison with other computer crime laws in other countries. The most striking findings are that during this time more than 81,000 URLs have been banned, with the most frequently blocked content -- 75% -- linked to information and images deemed to be defamatory to the royal family.

The results of this study have now been published in a book, "Computer Crime?", which will be available at the FCCT event.

On the panel the researchers will discuss the main findings of the study with representatives from the Ministry of Information Communication and Technology and from the business sector, as well as its implications for the freedom of expression and on business operations. 

The Computer Crime Act is relevant essentially to everyone who uses the Internet, and more so to those who deal in information from the Internet and base decisions on it. Join us for an enlightening discussion. 

Panelists will include Sawatri Suksri, a researcher at the Faculty of Law, Thammasart University, who will present the study and its political context. 

Reservations: To ensure sufficient food for the buffet, we would greatly appreciate your making a buffet reservation at least one day before the program if you plan to join us for the dinner. (No penalty for cancellation if last minute conflicts arise.) Please also note that tables/seats will be reserved only for those with advance buffet bookings. To reserve, please call 02-652-0580-1 or click here to send an e-mail to[email protected] .