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Thai Computer-Related Crime Act §14 Explained
Section 14 of the Computer-Related Crime Act B.E. 2550 criminalises various forms of inputting false / harmful data, fraud, and security-related content. This guide breaks down each subsection.
TL;DR
Section 14 of the Computer-Related Crime Act B.E. 2550 (2007), amended 2560 (2017), criminalises six categories of online conduct: (1) false information causing damage to others, (2) fraud, identity offences, etc., (3) information jeopardising national security or public safety, (4) terrorism-related information, (5) obscene content publicly accessible, and (6) the broadcasting or forwarding of any of the above. Penalties: up to 5 years' imprisonment + THB 100,000 fine per subsection.
Subsection-by-Subsection
| § | Conduct | Penalty |
|---|---|---|
| 14(1) | False information likely to cause damage | ≤5 yrs / THB 100k |
| 14(2) | Fraud / identity / forgery via computer | ≤5 yrs / THB 100k |
| 14(3) | National-security / public-safety | ≤5 yrs / THB 100k |
| 14(4) | Terrorism content | ≤5 yrs / THB 100k |
| 14(5) | Obscene content public | ≤5 yrs / THB 100k |
| 14 final | Forwarding / sharing of above | Same scale |
Practical Foreigner Use Cases
- Social-media posts critical of others — defamation overlay.
- Cross-border online fraud — Thai jurisdiction trigger.
- Hosting / republishing controversial content — secondary liability.
- Email "scam" complaints often involve §14(1) + §14(2).
Common Mistakes
- Assuming "free speech online" — Section 14(1) covers defamation-flavoured false information.
- Forwarding without verification — §14 final captures forwarding.
- Skipping defamation defence (truth, public interest, good faith).
FAQs
1. Defamation vs §14(1)?
Distinct offences; charges may be pursued in parallel.
Related Reading
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