Government Warns Against Sharing Obscene Content Online; Promises Swift Legal Action
Thai authorities are cracking down on obscene content circulating on social media, warning that sharing, liking or reposting such material carries criminal penalties of up to five years imprisonment and fines under the Computer Crime Act.
May 24, 2025 – Deputy Government Spokesperson Ploy Talay Laksmee Sangchan revealed that following the viral spread of obscene content on social media with widespread public engagement through likes and shares, the government is taking the matter seriously. She announced that relevant agencies have been ordered to expedite investigations and bring those responsible for uploading and distributing such material to face strict legal action.
Ploy Talay emphasized that such actions violate the Computer Crime Act, specifically Section 14(1) regarding false data entry into computer systems and Section 14(4) concerning obscene content, which carry penalties of up to 5 years imprisonment, fines not exceeding 100,000 baht, or both.
Crucially, the spokesperson warned that individuals who like, share, or repost obscene clips face the same criminal liability as the original offenders under Section 14(5) of the Computer Crime Act. Those who knowingly distribute such material face identical penalties: up to 5 years imprisonment and/or fines up to 100,000 baht.
Ploy Tayal urged citizens who encounter obscene content to immediately report it to the Cyber Police at 1441 rather than engaging with it. She called for public cooperation in creating a safe society free from harmful content, cautioning that such material risks inspiring copycat behavior, particularly among children and youth.
