FACTflash: Facebook cancels Thai activists

We are receiving numerous preliminary reports that the Facebook accounts of Thai freedom of expression activists are being disabled.

We have confirmed Giles Ji Ungpakorn, Andrew MacGregor Marshall, and Junya Lek Yimprasert, among others, have had their Facebook page profiles deleted by Facebook.

FACT readers will recall that from August to November 2011, Thai govt boasted in media releases it had blocked 90,000 Facebook pages for (you guessed it!) “lèse majesté”! Although there have been no further public announcements, we doubt Thai censors have been idle over the past six months.

Today’s page deletions by Facebook may well be part of a new govt get-tough policy in the wake of international media and human rights activists’ outrage over the conviction of Prachatai webmaster, Chiranuch Premchaiporn, for third-party comments.

After being blocked for seven months in 2007, Google quickly caved in by creating geolocational blocking for YouTube videos. Facebook has even less corporate integrity, as attested by privacy advocates, more kneepads and less Vaseline.

FACT did pretty well with FACTsite on WordPress until just a few weeks ago. FACTbook may easily be the next domino to fall in Thailand’s war on free expression.

Jamie Granato @rezound

01 Jun

i’m not on facebook is the new i don’t own a tv

Retweeted by Robert Guerra and 100+ others

CJ Hinke

Freedom Against Censorship Thailand (FACT)