Facebook Capitulates to the Thai Government
The Thai Facebook group, Royalist Marketplace, was a safe space for Thai people to discuss the country’s politics. It also included criticism of the Thai king.
Pavin Chachavalpongpun created Royalist Marketplace in April 2020, and it has since gained around 1 million members. In a statement to Reuters, Pavin said:
Because Thailand prohibits criticism of the monarchy, the Thai government turned to Facebook to take action on the group. Facebook, in turn, abided by the laws of the Thai government.
Thai users who now try to access the group see a message which states that access has been “restricted within Thailand pursuant to a legal request from the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society.”
A Facebook spokesperson detailed its decision to block the discussion group in an email to TechCrunch, stating:
Although the group still remains restricted in Thailand, Facebook is promising to “legally challenge” the Thai government’s request to block the group in that country.
Facebook Walks a Fine Line With Free Speech
Facebook is known for walking a fine line between free speech and censorship. Which is a tricky line to walk. By blocking Royalist Marketplace in Thailand, Facebook is respecting that country’s laws, but at what cost?
