Thailand’s Digital Economy Minister ‘clarifies’ the issue of crime pictures and videos being published on the web.

Thailand’s Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) went into effect on June 1st. Then, two weeks ago, there was a story about a woman who avoided photographing burglars because she was afraid of being sued by the thieves for “sharing their personal information” under the PDPA. Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn, Thailand’s Minister of Digital Economy and Society, is advising crime witnesses that sharing images or videos of the occurrences via online channels ‘may’ violate the country’s new Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA). As a result, Chaiwut clarified the legislation and stated that this instance did not fit under its purview. He argued that there was no need to be concerned because the act was introduced to protect people and their personal information. He also stated that posting photographs or films that inadvertently contain others was not prohibited as long as the users did not intend to disparage those individuals. According to the minister, handing over evidence to police officers is a safer method to assist victims.

After a flight between a popular male Thai celebrity and his girlfriend, the PDPA became a major issue. The star, Atikhun “Kenly” Chottanatpiti, alias Kenly Take Me Out, was said to have assaulted his fiancée in a public location at a condominium in Bangkok on June 9. One woman was present throughout the incident and attempted to assist the female victim. She also videotaped the encounter and shared it on social media to reveal the male celebrity’s identity.

Chaiwut was forced to explain the legislation once more last Sunday. According to him, while sharing photographs or films that include others via internet channels may infringe regulations, it may not violate the PDPA in every circumstance. PDPA’s key topics, according to Chaiwut, were not uploading photographs or videos online or distributing news online. The act was designed to protect residents’ personal information that was gathered and retained by government agencies or third parties. The people in the photos or videos, he said, could file complaints against the posters. Witnesses should not keep the images or videos, according to Chaiwut, but should instead pass them over to the police or other appropriate authority.

Kenly reportedly urged the woman to remove the footage, but she refused. Many Thai internet users believed that the woman was a wonderful person who sought to help others and that she should not be prosecuted. People claimed that ‘weaponizing’ the new act in this way would be unfair in this circumstance. As a result, Kenly stated that he will file a police report alleging that the woman violated the PDPA by sharing his film without his permission.