By Stevie Smith Sep 24, 2007, 13:41 GMT
It would appear that Google-owned video-sharing service YouTube is destined to never gain a completely concrete footing in Thailand following news that Thai authorities are attempting to block specific video clips posted on the site accusing the country’s former Prime Minister of concocting the headline-making coup that unfolded in 2006. Google-owned YouTube facing fresh content bans in both Thailand and Turkey regarding insulting video clips against leading authorities. REUTERS/Clay McLachlan
Google-owned YouTube facing fresh content bans in both Thailand and Turkey regarding insulting video clips against leading authorities. REUTERS/Clay McLachlan
"In the next couple of days, we will seek a court order to block those links deemed to cause public confusion and threaten national security," explained Yanaphon Youngyuen, the head of the Justice Ministry’s Internet crimes unit, while talking to the Reuters news agency. "While awaiting the court order, we are seeking cooperation from Internet service providers to block those links," he added.
This latest flurry of unwanted Thai-based attention to tarnish YouTube’s international reputation comes hot on the heels of Thailand lifting a separate ban against the site, which was in effect for five months and was enforced due to posted clips deemed as insulting to 79-year-old Thai king Bhumidol Adulyadej. The ban was lifted in August after YouTube agreed to remove the contentious clips and also apply a content filtration system preventing Thais from accessing insulting videos.
The two ‘Crisis of Siam’ video clips currently ruffling the feathers of the Justice Ministry run for a combined sixteen minutes (10 and 6) and accuse former Thai Prime Minister Prem Tinsulanonda of being responsible for instigating the country’s recent coup, which, up to this juncture, had been lain at the feet of members of the military.
The 87-year-old former Prime Minister, who now serves as Privy Council chief, has been targeted by similar accusations in the past, with supporters of overthrown Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra offering such allegations via fervent demonstrations. Such claims have been denied at every turn by the militarily-appointed government and also the former Prime Minister’s official spokesman, who has offered that "everyone knows what the truth is."
YouTube has yet to offer any comment or confirmation regarding this latest attempt by Thailand to slap a ban on its video content.
In related news, a court in Turkey has moved to ban YouTube access following complaints against video clips insulting the country’s founding father Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, as well as President Abdullah Gul, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and the Turkish national army. The court has subsequently ordered Turkish Telecom to block access to the whole site.
Turkey issued a two-day YouTube ban back in March of this year following another insulting clip of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, whose memory is protected by law.
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