Criminal Code adds clauses to tackle child pornography

The new offences are possession of child pornography, sharing of child pornography, and distribution of child pornography. 

The additions to the Criminal Code are in line with the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Thailand ratified in 1992.

Surasit Sangviroatjanapat, a chief judge of the Office of the President of the Supreme Court, recently explained that the additional clauses in the Criminal Code would take effect from December 8 because the amended version of the law was promulgated in the Royal Gazette since September 8.

According to him, while it is easy for people in general to understand that the distribution of child pornography is wrong, some people may not get a clear idea of what possession of child-pornography is.

“The possession will be interpreted in the same way as the person having illicit drug in possession,” Surasit said. 

He said social-media users would not be convicted of child-pornography possession simply because someone else sent the offending files to them. 

However, he warned that if social-media users downloaded the files into their devices, they would face legal action.

“Recording it shows the recipients also intend to possess the pornographic stuff,” he explained. 

Surasit said that to avoid legal trouble, people should neither keep nor forward pornographic files.