<p>After years of campaigning and lobbying by human rights groups, the junta-appointed lawmakers have dropped a bill to criminalise torture and enforced disappearance.</p>

<div> <div>At least seven members of the junta-appointed National Legislative Assembly have failed to meet attendance requirements set by the Interim Constitution. </div></div>

<p>Three more military generals have been appointed to the junta’s National Legislative Assembly (NLA). &nbsp;</p> <p>On 2 February 2017,<a href="http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2560/E/036/1.PDF">&nbsp;the Royal Gazette website published</a>&nbsp;an announcement that three military generals had been appointed to the junta’s hand-picked NLA.</p>

<p>Leading media organisations throughout the country have joined hands against a controversial media licensing bill that will give the government greater control over the media. &nbsp;</p> <p>On 29 January 2017, representatives of 30 media organisations nationwide issued a joint statement against the controversial Media Reform Bill. &nbsp;</p> <p>Citing the media as a factor in many social problems, the bill outlines moral standards for all forms of media with penalties for non-compliance.</p>

<div> <div>Thailand’s junta-appointed parliament has passed amendments to the constitution, after the newly crowned King Vajiralongkorn requested changes to the section on royal prerogatives.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 13 January 2017, the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) approved an amendment to Article 2 of the junta’s 2014 interim charter. The changes were passed unanimously with 228 votes in favor and three abstentions. </div></div>

<div>Thailand’s newly amended Computer Crimes Act will jeopardise the junta’s ‘Thailand 4.0’ policy of developing the country’s digital economy, says an organisation leading Thailand’s financial technology industry. Allowing authorities to access the personal data of internet users will force businesses out of the country.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 16 December 2016, Thailand’s junta-appointed legislature, the National Legislative Assembly, unanimously voted to pass an amendment to the controversial Computer Crimes Act. </div>

<div> <div> <div property="content:encoded"> <p>PEN America reacted with dismay today to the news that Thailand’s legislature has approved recently proposed amendments to the 2007 Computer Crime Act, saying that the newly-amended Act would continue to enable and worsen serious abuse of freedom of expression online.</p> </div></div></div>

<p>The spokesperson of the Thai junta leader has warned that those who participate in public gatherings against the controversial new Computer Crime Act could be prosecuted.</p> <p>On 18 December 2016, Lt Gen Sansern Keawkamnerd, spokesperson of the Prime Minister’s Office, told the media that those who planned to participate in protests against the Computer Crime Bill could be prosecuted for causing public disturbances,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tnamcot.com/content/616858">Thai News Agency reported</a>.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Thai netizens have staged a protest against the draconian Computer Crime Bill the junta’s lawmakers recently passed. &nbsp;</p> <p>At 3 pm on 18 December 2016, four youth activists gathered at Bangkok Art and Culture Center (BACC), Bangkok, to stage a symbolic protest against the new controversial Computer Crime Bill.</p> <p>The junta’s National Legislative Assembly (NLA) passed the bill during the third reading with 167-0 votes in favor and five abstentions on Friday.</p>

<div>Despite the protests of over 300,000 Thais, the junta’s lawmakers have passed the controversial Computer Crimes Bill to provide the state with heightened online surveillance and censorship powers. &nbsp;&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 16 December 2016, the National Legislative Assembly, the junta-appointed law-making body, unanimously passed an amendment to the controversial Computer Crime Act. </div>

<div> <div>Alarm has been raised over last minute changes to the controversial Computer Crime Bill that the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) will vote on tomorrow. </div></div>

<div>More than 300,000 Thais have signed a petition opposing the new Computer Crime Bill that will allow greater government control over information online.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 15 December 2016, representatives of the Thai Netizen Network (TNN) and Amnesty International (AI) submitted the signatures to the President of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA), the junta-appointed law-making body. </div>