The government in Thailand has stepped up scrutiny for material on social media deemed insulting the monarchy in the wake of King Bhumibol Adulyadej's death on Thursday. The broadcasting regulator, National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) had on Friday asked internet service providers to monitor content and block anything inappropriate besides asking platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and messaging apps to block material deemed insulting to the monarchy, reports Reuters.
Thailand's Lese majeste (insulting the monarchy) laws are among the strictest in the world.
Convictions have become more frequent, and punishments more severe, under the military government that seized power in 2014, the report points out.
Article 112 of Thailand's criminal code says anyone who "defames, insults or threatens the king, queen, the heir apparent or the regent" will be punished up to 15 years in prison (BBC, June 10, 2016)
In Tamil Nadu, at least seven persons have been arrested so far for publishing and circulating rumours about chief minister's (who is undergoing treatment at a private hospital) health status.
But what we should keep in mind is that unlike Thailand, India is a `democracy.'
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