Thailand Passes Controversial Cyber-security Law | Nairalaw

Thailand unanimously passed the Cybersecurity Act on Thursday
that gives the government control over the internet.

This act permits the National Cybersecurity Committee, led by
Thailand’s military, “to summon individuals for questioning and
enter private property without court orders in case of actual or
anticipated ‘serious cyber threats.’”

Another branch of the government can now search and seize data
and hardware without a warrant if confronted with such a
threat.

Thailand also unanimously passed a second law, the Personal Data
Protection Act, which regulates all companies that collect data on
individuals in Thailand.

According to the Associated Press, the laws will go into affect
after they are approved by Thailand’s king.

The cybersecurity law has been heavily criticized by both
activists and businesses, with some opponents calling it “cyber
martial law.”

Jeff Paine, the managing director of the Asia Internet
Coalition, said the law “would give the regime sweeping powers to
monitor online traffic in the name of an emergency or as a
preventive measure, potentially compromising private and corporate
data.”