Thousands of offensive websites blocked

Thousands of offensive websites blocked

published : 26 Sep 2022 at 09:08

newspaper section: News

writer: Post Reporters

Fact-checking website Thai D.I. Machine was launched on International Fact-Checking Day 2021 in April last year to allow the general public to fact-check suspicious information by themselves. (Photo: Somchai Poomlard)

Fact-checking website Thai D.I. Machine was launched on International Fact-Checking Day 2021 in April last year to allow the general public to fact-check suspicious information by themselves. (Photo: Somchai Poomlard)

Almost 5,000 web addresses have been blocked for running illegal content, including lese majeste and pornography, says the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES).

In the first nine months of this year, the ministry blocked 4,735 URLs on 183 court orders, according to the DES.

The blocked web addresses cover six types of legal violations: lese majeste (1,816 URLs), online gambling (1,507 URLs), immoral acts (1,119 URLs), pornography (219 URLs), sales of e-cigarettes (58 URLs) and overpriced online lottery sales (17 URLs).

The data was released in the wake of announcement by the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau of 2,330 cases of technology crime from Dec 22, 2020 to Aug 31 this year.

The highest number of online technology crimes involved online gambling and trans-border crimes (670 cases), followed by financial fraud (579 cases), and the spread of fake news (483 cases).

The government was also pushing for laws to be passed to enable authorities to act swiftly against widespread crimes including the opening of proxy bank accounts.

In the meantime, the anti-money laundering law was being amended to standardise its enforcement, especially with regards to tackling proxy bank accounts. The bill is being vetted by the Council of State.

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