Media activists express concern over new Thai cyber law

BANGKOK (AFP) - Thai police will be able to seize computers from homes and businesses under a new cyber-crime law that came into force Wednesday, which authorities say will help crack down on Internet pornography.

The Computer-related Crimes Act allows authorities to seize computers if they suspect they will be used illegally, but media rights activists say the law will allow the government to invade people's privacy.

People found guilty of breaking the new law could face up to 20 years in prison if their actions are seen as a threat to national security.

"This is to prevent computers being used for sending pornographic material or slanderous messages," Information and Communications Technology Ministry spokesman Vissanu Meeyoo said.

But Supinya Klangnarong of the watchdog Freedom Against Censorship Thailand said the new law allowed the authorities to trawl through private files on people's computers.

"The new law is a threat and violates people's privacy," Supinya told AFP. "It's not preventive as they said, it is a controlling measure."

Media rights campaigners have warned of increasing censorship since a military coup last year. About 45,000 websites are blocked by the government, and media rights groups say the number is rising.

Most are pornographic, but the government also targets sites critical of the king or supportive of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

In the highest-profile case, the government blocked video-sharing website YouTube in April after clips began appearing showing digitally-altered images of King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The website remains inaccessible in Thailand.

New York-based Human Rights Watch said in May that Thailand was stifling free political debate in the kingdom by shutting down political websites and moving to silence online critics.