Facebook Blocks Thailand From Page Satirizing Monarchy

On 5 May 2016, Khaosod reports that this is the first apparent acknowledgement it is cooperating with Thai authorities in censoring content, Facebook has blocked its users in Thailand from accessing a page satirizing Thailand’s Royal Family, citing local laws.

Blocking of GuKult also came at a time when activist communities in Thailand are struck by panicked speculation the Thai military regime can somehow get its hand on private chat logs between two Facebookers abducted by soldiers on April 27. 

The two suspects, Nattatika Worathaiwit and Harit Mahaton, are now charged with insulting the monarchy based on their conversation in the private chat. 

Section 112 of the Criminal Code, or the lese majeste law, does not limit the crime only to public sphere, so personal correspondence can be used as evidence as well.