Page 69 - Dignity and justice for all of us our voices are heard in Thailand

Article 12

“There needs to be a balance between freedom

of expression and censorship on the internet”

Commentary Ms. Methinee Dhepmanee

Ms. Methinee Dhepmanee, Director of the She says she is concerned about the large
Institute of Policy and Strategy, Ministry of number of victims whose rights have been
Information and Communication Technology, violated on the internet, people who have
thinks that further development of the been slandered online or had their images
internet requires people to be respectful of modified and publicized. She says that many
the rights of others. It is a communication cases have led to punishment following legal
tool that is useful in terms of time efficiency recourse.
and productivity, but should not be used by
people to abuse the rights of others. On the occasion of the 60th Anniversary of
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
She believes that each country is responsible Ms. Dhepmanee says she is filled with hope
for developing legal mechanisms to protect that victims of internet rights violations will
their citizens’ rights. Thailand has such a law, have their rights to privacy realized, because
the Computer-Related Offence Act (2007), every human being is entitled to dignity. She
which seeks to punish a person who has notes that for this to occur, there needs to be
committed an unlawful act of violation that a balance between freedom of expression
causes damage and compromises the and censorship on the internet. However, the
integrity and order of Thailand, as well as government should not compromise some
that of the economy, society and security rights to protect others.
of the state.

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