LINE messages being monitored

– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community

PHUKET: The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Ministry is keeping its eye on LINE message exchanges – particularly those related to the monarchy and national security.

“We can monitor all the nearly 40 million LINE messages sent by people in Thailand each day,” ICT Minister Pornchai Rujiprapa said yesterday.

He said about 33 million Thais use the LINE chat program.

“If you receive LINE messages that offend the monarchy and threaten national security, you can lodge a complaint with police. We can trace where the messages originally come from,” Mr Pornchai said at a press conference at Government House on a LINE Sticker campaign to promote 12 national core values.

Deputy Prime Minister Yongyuth Yutthawong, who was also present during the event, said the LINE sticker was in line with the policy set by Prime Minister and National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) chief Gen Prayut Chan-ocha.

The values encourage filial piety towards parents, guardians and teachers. Morality, integrity, generosity, and sharing are also included.

Mr Pornchai said people could download the stickers for the 12 core values for free between December 30 and January 28. They expected three million to 3.5 million downloads, he said.

“The sticker production cost is 6.6 million baht. With VAT, the cost reaches 7.1mn baht,” he said.

— Phuket Gazette Editors