Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Thailand Sues YouTube

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the let's-all-take-off-our-left-shoe dept.

eldavojohn writes "Thailand is hitting YouTube with charges of lese majeste (up to 15 years in prison) regarding the recent videos on YouTube showing the king next to feet, something extremely offensive in Thailand. 'Since the first clip, more new videos mocking the king have appeared on YouTube, including pictures of the monarch that had been digitally altered to make him resemble a monkey. Thailand's 79-year-old king, almost universally adored by Thais, is the world's longest-reigning monarch, and one of the few who is still protected by tough laws that prohibit any insult against the royal family.'"

13 of 435 comments (clear)

  1. Universally adored? by The+Warlock · · Score: 4, Insightful

    If he's universally adored, then why are people making fun of him on the Internet?

    Or is he universally adored in Thailand because it's illegal not to?

    (Damn, I wish I could have people thrown in prison for making fun of me on the Internet. Wow.)

    --
    I've upped my standards, so up yours.
    1. Re:Universally adored? by FooBarWidget · · Score: 4, Insightful

      It may very well be that 99% of the Thai sincerely adore the king, but that only 1% want to mock him. The existence of such laws do not necessarily imply that people are forced to like the king.

    2. Re:Universally adored? by king-manic · · Score: 4, Insightful

      It seems strange to me Google accommodate China's censorship and oppression but are unwilling to work with Thailand on this issue.

      China = $$$$$$$$$$$$$
      Thailand = $
      I think that basically explains it.

      --
      "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy."
  2. Here we go again by zappepcs · · Score: 4, Insightful

    While there may be laws in Thailand against such pictures, there are none in most of the rest of the world. King or not, you cannot regulate the entire network. Perhaps by law, YouTube must remove such offending pictures in their Thailand based servers, but if anyone, I mean ANYONE thinks they can regulate the entire Internet... they are in for a surprise.

    In fact, since this story has come out in the open now, you are sure to see even more pictures of the king in all sorts of not-so-pleasant-for-him ways.

    I guess they have to try until they learn....

    Queue the viral news stories with funny pictures of the king in 3... 2... 1..

    --
    Support NYCountryLawyer RIAA vs People
  3. Um.... by Roachgod · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Get the fuck over it. Seriously.

    He is a KING. A KING. He should be able to deal with (oh horror) FEET!. I am aware of the cultural implications (I am friends with a few people from Thailand), but I expect people to be able to get over jackasses giving them the finger. I expect more of a guy who is a king.

    The laws are lame. Tough shit Thailand.

    1. Re:Um.... by secolactico · · Score: 4, Insightful

      He is a KING. A KING. He should be able to deal with (oh horror) FEET!. I am aware of the cultural implications (I am friends with a few people from Thailand), but I expect people to be able to get over jackasses giving them the finger. I expect more of a guy who is a king.

      I'm thinking that it's not the King who wants to sue, but some officials who feel insulted or wants to ingratiate themselves or whatever. Remember that Thailand is under military rule and the monarch is just the "head of state".

      In fact, it was the king who pardoned the swiss man who defaced his portrait. For all we know the king doesn't give a hoot about this issue but it's not in his power to change the law or to keep people from trying to enforce it.

      In any case, I don't think this will amount to anything. I think they just want their displeasure to be heard but they are fully aware that a lawsuit of this kind will not do a thing.

      --
      No sig
  4. Re:Royal Family by jimstapleton · · Score: 4, Insightful

    They only have a chance of that if YouTube has servers in Thailand

    --
    34486853790
    Connection too slow for X forwarding? Try "ssh -CX user@host"
  5. Re:Hrm... by Opportunist · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Imagine this for the British Royals! Teh horror! What would the yellow press do?

    No more Duke of Ears jokes, no more Hakenkreuz-Harry, no "why can't Camilla ride a horse" jokes... the world would be poorer ... or better off.

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  6. Well, this will quietly eliminate the mocking. by Baavgai · · Score: 4, Insightful

    A few people post an insult, they show it to their friends, they all get a laugh. You find this horribly offensive, what do you do?

    A) While the number aware of the offending material is still few, you can choose to just let it go.

    Or...

    B) You sue one of the largest Internet entities around, assuring that your embarrassment will achieve far reaching exposure previously impossible. People who don't even know where your country is (i.e. Americans ) will mock you and, if you're real lucky, late night TV hosts will broadcast the images so that even those who don't know YouTube from BoobTube can share in your mortification.

    You choose B? Really? Good luck with that.

  7. Re:Well, by phasm42 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The funny thing is, the king in Thailand seems to like to pardon people (or at least foreigners) that do this, according to TFA.
    This actually seems to be a fairly smart PR move. Imagine if there was a law that made it a crime to insult you (3-15 years in jail), and you also had the power to pardon people sentenced under this law. You could:
    a. Do the right thing and denounce the law as unfair and unjust, telling your supporters not to be so overzealous, or
    b. Silently accept the law, and reap the benefits of being able to "forgive" people for insulting you by pardoning them. Fools think you're a hero for being so generous.

    Robbing someone of 15 years of their life and then giving it back isn't generous, it's cruelty. The people are foolish enough to support it, and the king does nothing about it.
    --
    "No one likes working in a hamster wheel, and your shop smells of cedar shavings from here." - TaleSpinner
  8. Re:Slashdotter Replies by Darby · · Score: 4, Insightful


    What happened to respecting other peoples cultures and religious beliefs anyway?

    They are *tolerated* not respected.
    This is as it should be.
    As in "Wow, you believe in some idiotic shit. Oh well, whatever floats your boat" as opposed to "OMFG you believe in the divinity of the taco?!? I'm never eating at Taco Bell again out of respect for your stupid ,yet deserving of respect religion".

  9. Re:Hrm... by infestedsenses · · Score: 4, Insightful

    People may want to stop and think for a moment. It's not all black and white.

    A user on YouTube has created some commentary that has to be the most intelligent thing I've heard on the situation up until now:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vnz7lwh0pCM

    --
    parasight.de
  10. right... by N3wsByt3 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Could you explain the link again between TFA and childprostitution in Thailand? I know demagogic emo-appeal is always a good way to get attention on slashdot, but going from possible censorship on youtube to your 'people-selling-their-kids' paragraph is somewhat of a stretch.

    In fact, it has nothing to do with it.

    --
    --- "To pee or not to pee, that is the question." ---