Thailand began legal action on Thursday against Facebook and Twitter for ignoring requests to take down content, in its first such move against major internet firms.
The digital ministry filed legal complaints with cybercrime police after the two social media companies missed 15-day deadlines to fully comply with court-issued takedown orders from August 27, according to Puttipong Punnakanta, Thailand’s Minister of Digital Economy and Society.
No action was taken against Alphabet’s Google as originally suggested, as the internet search giant took down on Wednesday all the YouTube videos specified in the order, Puttipong said.
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“This is the first time we’re using the Computer Crime Act to take action against platforms for not complying with court orders,” Puttipong told reporters. “Unless the companies send their representatives to negotiate, police can bring criminal cases against them. But if they do, and acknowledge the wrongdoing, we can settle on fines.”
Puttipong Punnakanta, Thailand's Minister of Digital Economy and Society, says the government will file more takedown requests to Facebook, Twitter and Google. Photo: Reuters
The digital minister did not disclose details of the content or say what laws had been violated. The complaints were against the US parent companies and not their Thai subsidiaries, he said.
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The ministry will file more such takedown requests to Facebook, Twitter and Google, asking them to remove more than 3,000 items from their platforms, with content ranging from pornography to criticism of the monarchy, according to Puttipong.
