Media, law academics, activists raise questions about digital economy bills

“Currently, Thais are very active and spending more time online to express their ideas. If the new bills are enacted, peoples’ privacy and freedom would potentially be affected,” Kanathip Thongraweewong, dean of law faculty at Saint John’s University, said yesterday.

He shared his view with the audience at a seminar on the media, information and communication technology laws being overseen by the National Legislative Assembly. The seminar was conducted by the Graduate School of Communication Arts and Management Innovation and the National Institute of Development Administration. 

Kanathip said that of the 10 bills to promote the digital economy, he was concerned about the new computer crime, personal data protection, and cyber-security bills. 

He explained that the cyber-security bill would allow authorities to set up committees that would be able to access the personal data of people across all forms and formats without court orders, which would affect Internet freedom.

He pointed out that those bills appeared to be a set of national-security laws, rather than promotion of the digital economy policy. 

A panelist, Jon Ungpakorn who is a social activist, said he was concerned about the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) and its funds. He believed the bill on assigning radio frequencies and regulation of broadcasting and telecommunications service would be affected as well as the independence of the NBTC. 

 

NBTC 

“Under the new bills, the NBTC would no longer be independent as it would be under the government authority while the assignment of radio frequencies appeared to give first priority to government bodies for public service, not to public organisations,” Jon added.

Jon added that it would be sad if the NBTC’s fund meant for research and development for the public, disabled and disadvantaged people, benefits for the elderly and media development for public and community service was used to fund the government.

Importantly, the drafting process lacks public participation or consultation with the public, Jon pointed out.

Apart from those concerns, Kasititorn Pooparadai, senior division director of policy research division of the National Science and Technology Development Agency, said that the National Digital Commission for the Economy and Society needed to engage with various sectors. 

“Under those new laws, at least five bodies have to get involved with the information and communication technology [ICT] industries. I believe that this is quite hard to handle with a handful of government bodies,” Kasititorn added. 

She said the ICT industry needed experts to deal with this fast-changing industry.

“How will the government attract high-technology skilled personnel to work with government organisations to drive the digital economy?” she asked.

In addition to this point, Alongkorn Parivudhipongs, lecturer of Faculty of the Communication Arts at Chulalongkorn University, said the new policy seemed to centralise the ICT, broadcasting and telecom industries through the government's cyber-security law. 

He also questioned the readiness of basic infrastructure, software development and skills, research and development in the Kingdom. 

On this point, Thakorn Tantasit, secretary-general of the NBTC, said that only 28 per cent of the total population now had access to high-speed Internet while the majority had no knowledge about the digital economy. 

“The network infrastructure should be in place in both wire and wireless service to get access to key information, he added.