Thai Gov. recruiting ‘Cyber-Scouts’
The Nation newspaper reported today that the ‘Information and Communications Technology Ministry (ICT)’ – along with both the Justice and Education ministeries – are launching a project which will involve upwards of 200 ‘volunteers’ to moniter and report to the government any internet activity that may be deemed as ‘inappropriate’.
The project runs under the rather ominous monika of ‘Cyber-Scout’, and will be tasked with monitoring websites that may compromise national security or be considered as insulting to the Royal Institution.
PM Abhisit made the link that this project would … “… also help bridge the dgital divide between people who have, and those who do not have a chance to access the internet…” as well as “… educate them on the appropriate use of technology.”
ICT Minister Chuti Krairiksh said that initially, some 200 students, teachers and government officials, along with people from other sectors, would be recruited as volunteers and then trained “… in the proper use of the internet…” before working as governmental-based ’screeners’ of websites.
PM Abhisit voiced concern over the fact that the internet is “… a two-edged sword…”, and that the 200 or so volunteers will effectively help the government by creating a network of ‘Cyber-Monitors.’
Thailand Times
