Providers of free WiFi must store data from the Thai government
Catering operators in Thailand that offer free WiFi service must store their customers' internet traffic or they will be fined.
The Minister of Digital Economy, Puttipong Punnakan, says that this data collection is necessary in case the WiFi connection is used for criminal activities.
“Shops and cafes that offer Wi-Fi services must store internet traffic for 90 days so that law enforcement can access this data under Section 26 of the Computer Crimes Act,” Puttipong said at a news conference. Those who fail to comply will be punished in accordance with the law.
The owners of internet cafes, especially small ones, are not happy about it, because the measure will cost them.
It seems more and more that the government wants to take full control of social media in Thailand. For example, the activist Karn Pongpraphapan was arrested for 'unwanted tweets' on Twitter. Karn is charged by the police's Technology Suppression Division with violating the strict Computer Crime Act. This could result in a prison sentence of 5 years and/or a fine of 100.000 baht. Those who share his Tweets or Facebook messages can expect the same punishment.
The police make a connection with the hashtag @royalmotorcade, a reference to a motorcade of cars carrying a member of the royal family that halted traffic in Bangkok. For example, Bangkokians could no longer reach hospitals, so a woman had to give birth on the street.
Karn's lawyer denies that he was criticizing the column or the monarchy. Karn said after his arrest that he is determined to fight the charges. He has been released on bail.
Source: Bangkok Post
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Solution:
the operator charges each customer 10 baht more (per account),
let the customer know that this is to be able to pay the fine,
Internet traffic is not saved
and of that extra 10 Baht the fine is paid.
A form of civil disobedience.
Companies that support freedom of expression can sponsor the fines.
Even simpler: you no longer offer free WiFi, but let your customers pay 10 Baht. Because it is no longer free, you do not have to save the data. That's perfectly legal, right?
Big Brother is watching you!
I hear that charges may now be more frequent for "matters appearing on the Internet that threaten unity and national security."
Campaigner Karn Pongpraphapan, who campaigned for quick elections in the past, had given an overview on his Facebook page of the monarchies in France, Russia and Germany that had to disappear.
it is one of the reasons why tourists choose not to visit Thailand anymore.
I get the impression that the Thai government is doing everything it can to make it as unpleasant as possible for tourists.
they do everything to make you feel as uncomfortable as possible in Thailand
Do you find it strange that Vietnam and Cambodia receive more than 40% more tourists at once, and Thailand 30% less
but it must first be at 0% tourists before they realize that this is not the case
And that process has been going on for a few years now, fewer tourists to Thailand and strong growth to Vietnam and Cambodia
The official statistics say that every year there are more and more tourist arrivals to Thailand. We can even speak of spectacular growth, from 20 million 10 years ago to 30 million this year.
The growth mainly comes from the Chinese, the Indians and other Asian countries, not from Europe, the US and Australia. White foreigners are easier to recognize in the Thai street scene. Hence perhaps.
What nonsense. As if the tourist has any idea of what is going on here. And if he already has, his plan to come to Thailand changes. As a potential tourist I would be more concerned about 25.000 road deaths than about the storage of my Facebook activities while I eat (which are already stored by Mark anyway). But apparently no one does and that kill list has been at the same level for years.
Incidentally, it is of course a good reason not to use the mobile phone while eating. That in turn is (social) profit.
What does this have to do with tourists?
I really don't understand your response.
Or do you mean the criminal tourists , who then no longer come ?
As always, it's the lame excuse; to be able to detect crime, which must justify invasion of privacy. It is hard to believe that professional criminals leave useful information unencrypted via free internet. Come on, we live in 2019, how stupid are the people to believe that. The actual reason is of course far-reaching state interference and the desire to eradicate everything they don't like. Sad to hear and frustrating for the people who suffer from it.
Military leaders and the compulsion to observe, control and not be a fan of dissent should come as no surprise In Thailand, it's even worse among the 'khon die' (the good people) and the special relations high up at the top. But among the people you hear a careful hum, not too openly, because otherwise people from the government in uniform or civilians will be knocking at your door. On Twitter, for example, the hashtag was trending about the traffic jams around the road closures, as a result of which people were stuck for hours and even ambulances had to stop and turn off their flashing lights and siren (you can lie in the back).
So be careful because a different vision is sensitive. Some call that good leadership: the energetic soldiers who bring peace and order, I call it scary. Reminds me of Orwell's 1984, when the 'elected' dictator Prayut ironically recommended 'animal farm' a few months back.
- http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/2019/10/02/netizens-angered-by-motorcade-traffic-woes/
- http://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics/2019/10/09/interview-military-surveillance-turning-thailand-into-1984/
Why complain about this? In Belgium, all (no exceptions) internet traffic must be kept for 5 years, including all SMSes, and all telephone connections (from whom to whom, and from which mast to each mast) (not the content of the conversation). I suspect in the Netherlands that there will be one and the same legislation.
The equipment most people use can't store anything anyway. No space and no option to forward logs to external storage. Or you have to put a firewall behind it. But who pays then? And external storage? Certainly not the government. And a criminal will certainly use a VPN.
This is a drop, after 20 years of visiting Thailand every year, I'm going to Vietnam next year, the corruption, road safety, all kinds of idiotic rules that people come up with to thwart the tourist. Enough is enough.
No beach chairs on Wednesday because the beach needs to be cleaned, the fines for riding a scooter only for Westerners, double entrance fees, stupid hassle at the airport, etc.
Goodbye Thailand
You don't have to be a criminal to use VPN, my server is sometimes in Hong Kong and then again in Stockholm. Guess there's little point in saving if you use VPN. They figure you out by the IP address and is with vpn impossible, every time you log in the IP address changes. And again, I have nothing to hide, just the feeling that you keep your privacy is good.
This subject also raises suspicions about the reasons for this measure. From my investigation time I can report that quite a few criminals did communicate in this way. This was some years ago and I don't think the average criminal in Thailand is that high. It is possible that this group does use this. The top criminals can use all kinds of (encrypted) communication. They don't need this and probably won't use it. Large providers are obliged to store information and, seen in that light, aligning it would not even be that crazy. It is easier said than done that shops, cafes, restaurants and hotels that provide free Wi-Fi have to arrange storage. I do share the concern that the information will not also be used for other purposes. Freedom of expression is under pressure in many countries and Thailand is no exception.
It's all right People, it's all going to be fine, this is just another small restriction in freedom and privacy. And what all this will yield! Wow! masses of criminals are now going to be found.
The Thai government is only doing this to promote the safety of the country and the tourist, because of course they cannot allow subversive activities, let alone bloggers who complain that people are forbidden to drive on a ride to the hospital.
I think that cameras and microphones should be placed in all hotel rooms and in expat homes, or where suspicious people are located (everywhere), with the exception of government buildings, military courts, Thammanat Prompao and associates and homes of security officials .
This is the way to track down criminals. and anyone who opposes that is suspicious anyway and must be refused visas, they will quickly go to Vietnam or Cambodia, neat and tidy.
What a simple solution.. it is so incredibly easy to protect your internet use and the location too..Typical solution from a simple soul. Like children who don't understand.