Amnesty International (AI) has urged its members worldwide to call upon the Thai junta to amend its controversial Computer Crimes Act.

 

On 11 October 2016, AI’s London headquarters launched an urgent action calling upon its seven million members around the world to appeal to the junta to amend the problematic Computer Crimes Act so as to conform to Thailand’s obligations under international human rights conventions that Thailand has voluntarily ratified. The campaign also demands that the junta free all prisoners prosecuted under the law. 

 

This campaign will last until 18 November this year.

 

An amended version of the Computer Crimes Act aimed at extending the state’s legal powers is currently going through the legislative process. The highly controversial Section 14 of the amended Act, which sets a penalty of up to five years in prison for spreading false computer data, is broad enough to criminalise any dissenting or critical idea posted online on platforms as innocent as a Facebook comment.

 

Article 20 also allows the Thai authorities to delete any online material that could lead to ‘public unrest and affect public morale’, even when such content is not illegal under any other law.

 

It is expected that the amended version will be rubber-stamped by the military-selected National Legislative Assembly by the end of October.