Tensions grow between Thai authorities and Facebook
Earlier this month, Thailand passed a law that prohibits online content that is ‘contrary to public order or public morality‘ leading Thai Internet service providers (ISPs) to request Facebook to block 600 Facebook pages. On 12 May, Thailand threatened Facebook to take legal action, unless the social media platform removes the remaining 131 pages that are considered illegal by the Thai authorities. Thai secretary-general of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, Takorn Tantasith, told reporters that ‘if even a single illicit page remains, we will immediately discuss what legal steps to take against Facebook Thailand’, giving the company four days to comply. With the deadline approaching, ISPs claimed that they were pressured to shut down access to Facebook in the country. After the deadline passed on 16 May, Takorn Tantasith announced that Facebook was cooperating and blocked the 131 posts.
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