Cafes and restaurants ordered to store customer wi-fi data for 90 days

The Thai Minister of Digital Economy Puttipong Punnakan says cafe and restaurant operators offering free wifi services, will have to collect internet traffic data used by their customers up to 90 days, or face punishment. The report didn’t specify if they wanted to simply track usage data or track the actual traffic and sites visited.

According to Khaosod English, the Minister claims the backlog is necessary “in case the wifi was used in criminal actions”.

At a news conference held yesterday Puttipong said “Shops and cafes that offer wifi services must collect internet traffic information for 90 days, so in case there is anything, officials may need to request for the information under Article 26 of the Computer Crimes Act,” according to the Khaosod English report.

He referred to a section in the revised cybercrime laws requiring internet providers to store a backlog of users’ internet usage up to three months.

“Those who do not comply will face punishment in accordance with the law.”

The Minister was previously an NCPO government spokesperson before resigning last February to run in the election under the Palang Pracharat Party.

SOURCE: Khaosod English

PHOTO: Puttipong Punnakan, Minister of Digital Economy, speaks at yesterday’s news conference – Khaosod English