Computer Crime Act (Thailand)

The Act on Computer Crime B.E. 2550 (Thai: พระราชบัญญัติว่าด้วยการกระทำความผิดเกี่ยวกับคอมพิวเตอร์ พ.ศ. ๒๕๕๐), commonly known as the Computer Crime Act (CCA) or the Computer Related Crime Act, is a 2007 Thai law addressing cyber offenses and the distribution of illegal content.^[1][2]

Computer Crime Act
Parliament of Thailand
Long title Act on Computer Crime B.E. 2550
Territorial extent	Thailand
Assented to by	King Bhumibol Adulyadej
Assented to	10 June 2007
Commenced	17 July 2007
Amended by
Act on Computer Crime (No. 2) B.E. 2560
Status: In force

Legislative history

The first page of the Act as published in the Royal Gazette

The act was given royal assent by King Bhumibol Adulyadej on 10 June 2007.^[3] Following its publication in the Royal Gazette on 18 June 2007, it came into force 30 days later on 17 July 2007.

2017 amendment

On 16 December 2016, an amendment known as the Act on Computer Crime (No. 2) B.E. 2560 was adopted unanimously by the junta-appointed National Legislative Assembly.^[4][5] The amendment, which was published in the Royal Gazette on 24 January 2017 and came into force on 24 May 2017, gave the Act a broadened scope and strengthened enforcement powers.^[6][7][8] The amendment empowers the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society to issue regulations subordinate to the Act.^[9]

Reaction

The act has criticized by rights groups for violating rights to free speech and to silence dissent.^[10]

The Act has commonly being used in conjunction with section 112 of Thailand's criminal code to charge people with lèse-majesté violations.^[11][4][12]