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Facebook blocks group critical of Thai monarchy amid government pressure

The move comes amid near daily youth-led protests against the government led by the former military junta chief and unprecedented calls for reforms of the monarchy.

The Royalist Marketplace group was created in April by Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a self-exiled academic and critic of the monarchy.

By doing this, Facebook is cooperating with the authoritarian regime to obstruct democracy and cultivating authoritarianism in Thailand.

Requests like this are severe, contravene international human rights law, and have a chilling effect on peoples ability to express themselves, a Facebook spokesperson said.

Thailands lese majeste laws, which forbid defaming the king, with penalties of up to 15 years in prison, is often the basis for such requests to block or remove content on social media platforms.

Earlier this month, Thailands digital minister accused Facebook of not complying with requests to restrict content, including insults to the monarchy.

Original article
Author: Patpicha Tanakasempipat

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Patpicha Tanakasempipat has recently written 5 articles on similar topics including :
  1. "Facebook Inc has taken down 185 accounts and groups engaged in an information-influencing operation in Thailand run by the military, the company said on Wednesday, the first time it has removed Thai accounts with ties to the government". (March 3, 2021)
  2. "Thailand's digital minister has threatened legal action against Facebook and accused the social media giant of not complying with government requests to restrict content deemed illegal, including perceived insults to the country's monarchy". (August 3, 2020)
  3. "More than half a million Thai users flocked to join a new Facebook group created by a critic of the powerful king after the social media company blocked its predecessor under pressure from the government". (August 25, 2020)
  4. "Thailand's digital minister vowed no relent on Wednesday in a crackdown on social media content deemed illegal and said it was unlikely Facebook would follow through on plans to challenge an order to block access to a group critical of the Thai monarchy". (August 26, 2020)
  5. "Facebook on Monday blocked access within Thailand to a group with 1 million members that discusses the country's king, after the Thai government threatened legal action over failure to take down content deemed defamatory to the monarchy". (August 24, 2020)
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