Amnesty was disappointed by the NLA for the vote for passing the draft amendment to the Computer Act Agendum 3, while thanking more than 366,000 people who signed their name to cast dissenting votes.

The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) reached the resolution to pass the draft amendment to the Act on Computer-Related Offenses (No. ……) B.E. ……. (amending the Computer Act or #ComputerACt) with 168 favorable votes per 0 with 5 people abstaining from the vote out of 172 participants. As a result, such draft has been considered for three agenda and is going to be submitted to the government for promulgation which will come into force upon a lapse of 120 days.

Mrs. Piyanuch Kotsan, Director of Amnesty International Thailand, as an organization opposing to the content which infringes human rights in the draft amendment to the Computer Act together with the Thai Netizen Network and the Internet Project for Public Law (iLaw) would like to thank more than 360,000 people who signed their name because it shows that there are a number of Thais who are alert to defend their rights and others’. However, the result was very disappointing, and it has been emphasized that the content in the draft amendment to this act opens a door for human rights violation and conflicts with the Thailand's international obligations.

“We are extremely disappointed that the result of the consideration turned out this way. The Act should be enacted to protect the people, but there are many issues in the draft amendment to this Act which open a door for human rights violation and conflict with the Thailand's international obligations. Not only is it the Amnesty that has been expressing the concern and proposing the amendment otherwise, but more than 360,000 people along with the world are also keeping an eye on the NLA. After this, we have to follow up with the enforcement and further amendment,” stated Piyanut Kotsan.