FRIDAY, April 26, 2024
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'Google, YouTube to screen posts', Prajin claims

'Google, YouTube to screen posts', Prajin claims

GOOGLE and YouTube will set up an ad-hoc team to work around the clock to monitor any posts considered offensive to the monarchy – or lese majeste, effective from today, Deputy Prime Minister Prajin Junthong said yesterday.

The government would send URLs (web addresses) of people thought to have put up such posts and times that clips were broadcast so the team can consider if it should block or suspend them within 24 hours, he said. That would be followed by court orders and more details when they came to hand.Ann Lavin, director of public policy and government affairs at Google’s Southeast Asia and Greater China office, was invited to meet Prajin as the government wished to get advice on how to handle lese majeste issues from posts on Google and YouTube. 
“Lavin, the executive of Google and YouTube, has insisted that the firm places importance on the case and agreed to move by setting up the team in the US. There would be Thai nationals in the team, which would handle the issue for 24 hours.”
She also said a complaint report in would be available in Thai. 
A Google executive was invited to meet Prajin as the government wished to get advice on how to handle with lese majeste cases posted in Google and YouTube. “Lavin, the executive of Google and YouTube, has insisted that the firm places importance on the case and agreed to move by setting [up] the team in the US. There would be Thai nationals in the team which would handle the issue for 24 hours [a day],” Prajin said. 

However, Google denied that it is monitoring posts by Thai social networkers but it will simply consider the Thai government's requests for removal of certain sensitive posts on case by case basis.

“We have always had clear and consistent policies for removal requests from governments around the world. We have not changed those policies in Thailand,” the statement said.

“We rely on governments around the world to notify us of content that they believe is illegal through official processes, and will restrict it as appropriate after a thorough review. All of these requests are tracked and included in our Transparency Report.”

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