Pornhub and other sites to remain blocked as they conflict with good morals for upstanding citizens
Pornhub and other adult websites are remaining blocked in Thailand as they “conflict with good morals for upstanding citizens.” The Thai Government says the websites encourage poor moral standpoints and can affect youth in a negative manner.
Itthipol Khunplume, Acting Minister of Digital Economy and Society and current Minister of Culture said the decision that was made by the previous office holder, Buddhipongse Punnakanta, will be upheld. The decision also includes keeping other popular adult websites blocked as the Thai Government has labelled them to be “obscene.” But the move to ban adult content has brought protests with those disagreeing saying such sites are freedom of expression.
Buddhipongse says pornography violates children’s and women’s rights and has confirmed that pornography is illegal in Thailand. He also says the websites allow users of any age to access them.
“I believe that people who have children will understand the ministry’s move because the site contains lots of inappropriate video clips.”
The minister did not give any more details about how it violates human rights, but back in March, activists started a petition to shutdown Pornhub, saying the website facilitates human trafficking. An anti-trafficking activist says the website makes it easy for sex traffickers to upload videos on the site.
Pornhub shot back, saying the claims are false and the company has a “steadfast commitment to eradicating and fighting any and all illegal content on the internet, including non-consensual content and child sexual abuse material.”
Although pornography is illegal in Thailand, Pornhub was online for a decade, according to Nation Thailand. Some say that the recent ban has to do with a video of a certain “someone” shared on Pornhub.
Activists also point towards sex being a natural act that should not be censored. Furthermore, they say, online gambling has been illegal for years, but is still accessible on the internet.
SOURCE: The Pattaya News
