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How Thai authorities use online doxxing to suppress dissent

(citizenlab.ca)
207 points gnabgib | 2 comments | 20 Apr 25 23:15 UTC | HN request time: 0.406s | source
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nomilk ◴[21 Apr 25 04:58 UTC] No.43748605[source]▶
> The (pro democracy) protesters were met with severe repression, and in November 2020, Prime Minister Prayuth ordered authorities to bring back the enforcement of lèse-majesté, or Section 112 of the Criminal Code, which criminalizes “insulting the monarchy”. Thailand’s use of lèse-majesté has been both arbitrary and prolific; protesters can be arrested for as little as sharing social media posts that are ‘insulting to the monarchy’. Furthermore, the weaponization of lèse-majesté has devastating consequences: those convicted under Section 112 face three to 15 years in prison per count.
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colechristensen ◴[21 Apr 25 06:52 UTC] No.43749049[source]▶
Absurd and not at all surprising today. And large sections of many populations do not care because their ideology aligns with whoever is doing the abuse of basic freedoms.
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foxglacier ◴[21 Apr 25 08:24 UTC] No.43749530[source]▶
Exactly. In New Zealand I got a visit from the police because of something I said on social media. It wasn't an offence, it just made them suspicious so they questioned me then went away. But some western countries are even worse and do imprison people for quite long sentences (sometime years) for saying politically wrong ideas on social media - UK is most notorious for this but it's well supported by the population who mostly just wants to punish anyone who disagrees with their politics.
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mjburgess ◴[21 Apr 25 09:15 UTC] No.43749848[source]▶
Can you provide an example of a single case where the UK has imprisoned people for political expression on social media?

As far as I can tell this is just far-right propaganda to disguise what actually happened -- which is the UK imprisoning people for conspiracies to burn down hotels with immigrants in them; or participating in on-going violent riots by calling for various buildings to be attacked or people to be murdered.

This speech isnt covered by free expression, and is a crime in all countries, including the US.

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Dachande663 ◴[21 Apr 25 09:54 UTC] No.43750093[source]▶
I’m guessing this[0].

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter_joke_trial

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timcobb ◴[21 Apr 25 13:31 UTC] No.43751830[source]▶
Nit: is this political? Looks like the issue with the "joke" was violence/terrorism. A political statement would be like

> David Cameron is a twit

Not

> I'm going to blow up the airport

Can't imagine why this person got jail time for that given that it was just idiocy, but still

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1. mrguyorama ◴[21 Apr 25 19:09 UTC] No.43755361[source]▶
>Can't imagine why this person got jail time for that given that it was just idiocy, but still

Lots of "idiocy" is explicitly illegal. Being dumb isn't an excuse to commit a crime. Literal children in the US get in trouble (legally, as in, sent to juvie) for bomb threats all the time.

Making a bad judgement call, like "surely everyone will understand I'm just joking about my threat to literally murder people" often has legal ramifications.

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2. timcobb ◴[21 Apr 25 23:05 UTC] No.43757479[source]▶
Sure, I agree, but why take this person out of society for something like this when you can fine them or make them so community service? Certainly that's a deterrent?