Six arrested, 500 websites blocked in child porn crackdown

[rooster59]

Six arrested, 500 websites blocked in child porn crackdown

By SURIYA PATATHAYO, 
THAWEE APISAKULCHAT 
THE NATION

 

 

THAILAND HAS stepped up its crackdown on online child pornography, leading to the recent arrest of six suspects and the blocking of more than 500 websites.

 

Deputy Tourist Police Commander Pol Maj-General Surachet Hakpal yesterday said that five suspects from three online child pornography networks had been arrested under warrants.

 

“Their accounts led to the arrest of another suspect,” he said. 

 

The arrests were made in Samut Prakan, Surat Thani and Ubon Ratchathani provinces, he said.

Surachet said police learned from one suspect, identified only as Oh, 29, that the networks had sponsors and controlled several websites.

 

Police were tipped off by non-governmental organisations to carry out the crackdowns, he said, adding that over 500 child porn websites have since been blocked.

 

Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division (ATPD) chief Pol Maj-General Kornchai Klayklueng said porn websites were considered human trafficking crimes, and most of the offenders are programmers or experts in doctoring photos.

 

Kornchai said young boys were sometimes duped to masturbate on webcams by offenders who pretended to be women and the recorded clips were shown on the child-porn sites.

 

National Police Office’s top adviser Pol General Tamasak Wicharaya said that an emerging human trafficking method was to lure female and male youths to take indecent photos and video clips to sell via social media. 

 

“We established the Thailand Internet Crimes against Children [TICAC] task force two years ago to tackle this trend and similar crimes,” he said.

 

The task force had already arrested many wrongdoers, he said, and most of them were Thais.

 

Tamasak, who heads the police force’s Children, Women, and Family Protection Centre, said he proposed upgrading TICAC into a division and setting up a digital forensic science division to fight online crimes, including child pornography.

 

“The centre now works closely with the 150-strong TICAC on digital investigation,” he said. The digital forensic science division will recruit 100 bachelor’s degree holders from within the police force and outside for computer, social media and telephone evidence gathering, he said. 

 

Tamasak hoped recent successes – especially Thai authorities’ continuing measures to prevent and suppress human-trafficking crimes – would improve the country’s position from Tier 2.5 on the watch list to Tier 2 in the US Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report 2018, to be released in June. 

 

In a related development, Nakhon Phanom social development and human security official Apinya Chompoomas led police and administrative officials to inspect night entertainment venues in Muang district on Thursday night as part of efforts to prevent human trafficking crimes. 

 

They gave a formal warning to a karaoke bar in Tambon Tha Khor that employed some girls under 18. The bar’s owner insisted the youths worked as dish-washing staff and not waitresses, while another beer and karaoke bar employed six Thai and seven Lao women with proper work permits. Apinya said the authorities have to be more vigilant now that human traffickers are using various techniques including abduction, and are luring foreign women into prostitution via marriage. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30345197

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-05-12

[YetAnother]

3 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

he said, adding that over 500 child porn websites have since been blocked.

hard to claim to be an advanced species when child pornography not only exists but at such a scale

[Kadilo]

Scratching the surface but gotta start somewhere I guess.


Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect

[anon789561]

it's good work. probably done by the 2 unassuming blokes behind Surachat who are watching on making sure he get's the investigation explanation right as he had no part in it.

And why does he take up half the display with a picture of him, he's standing in front of the bloody thing

bit cringe worthy now

[ezzra]

The scouges of social media whereby everything and everyone is allowed on, for the lowest perverts to the holy pious....

[Raymonddiaz]

1 hour ago, YetAnother said:

hard to claim to be an advanced species when child pornography not only exists but at such a scale

Thai police force likes to use big numbers that are difficult to check......... 

[Anak Nakal]

6 arrested?

Shoot them.

[barefootbangkok]

Congratulations again to the Tourist Police Division, who continue impressive efforts to reduce crime in Thailand! No mention of "Big Joke" who seems to have inspired the Tourist Police to new heights of competence and prominence but still a fabulous roundup of the scumbags producing child porn.

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, Happy enough said:

it's good work. probably done by the 2 unassuming blokes behind Surachat who are watching on making sure he get's the investigation explanation right as he had no part in it.

And why does he take up half the display with a picture of him, he's standing in front of the bloody thing

bit cringe worthy now

 

I take your point, but this guy is really active and has been at the front of revealing many criminal activities and apprehending many people.

 

If that means we see his image more often then I don't really mind. 

 

By the way, he's the Deputy Tourist Police Commander, where's his boss, never seen.

 

Where's the national cop, almost never seen. 

 

This guy is officially part of the tourist polie, is there not a more appropriate police department / police position that should be doing this work, finding and revealing kiddi porn? Who is it, why never seen?

 

IMHO there is a good point that a couple of deputies did the 'hunting', and yes they should be acknowledged, unless of course there's more ongoing value in keeping them off camera / out of public sight.

 

 

[metisdead]

Some troll posts and the replies have been removed. 

[quandow]

<rant>

I used to work cyber security. ANY and ALL who involve themselves in this kind of evil need several parts of their bodies removed with a dull, rusty knife.

 

A common reply from these scum is "I'm not really hurting anyone by just watching." SO WRONG!!! You create a market, some <deleted> will try to fill it.

 

There are several thoughts as to whether or not pedophilia can be cured. My advice - get thee to a psychiatrist or doctor or priest, SOMEONE. Kiddie porn is NOT A VICTIMLESS CRIME!

</rant>

[jingjai9]

One question - if the government can block these web sites, then why haven't they done it in the past? If web sites can be blocked, then why can't the ISP's share responsibility for this illegal content? 

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Can't argue with the arrests.

 

But can certainly wonder, what any of these cases have to do with the Tourist Police Division, since based on the reporting, all the suspects and operations are Thai/located in Thailand.

 

Of course, the news reports never bother to question what's any of this got to do with the Tourist Police and their supposed mission.

 

And, to boot, no mention of the names of the people arrested, what specifically they were arrested for. No need to get into those kinds of details when the purpose of course is to glorify a certain TP officer.

[fantom]

I wonder at this, 'over 500 websites, blocked' really? Where were they. Also the report conflates a number of topics, online pornography, human trafficking and raids on karaoke bars,  then I read this:

 

'The centre now works closely with the 150-strong TICAC on digital investigation,” he said. The digital forensic science division will recruit 100 bachelor’s degree holders from within the police force and outside for computer, social media and telephone evidence gathering, he said.'

In a separate thread today there is an update 'Govt to build 'Cyber Warrior Army' to monitor Netizens'

 

The op is very long on generalised phrases but very short on specifics.

 

In short what better way can there be to justify and promote a blanket monitoring system by the army of all citizens by way of targeted reports on motherhood issues such as the OP.  With cries of 'shoot em' coming from tv members they already have a cheer squad.

 

Disclaimer: By responding to reports of this nature with a degree of scepticism does not mean I support the abuse of children.

[watcharacters]

1 hour ago, Anak Nakal said:

6 arrested?

Shoot them.

 

Should that be prior to or after a trial?

 

[Lupatria]

I always wonder how way too many parents are obviously unaware of what their kids are going through, or in the worst cases are involved in this pervert business.

[oobar]

48 minutes ago, fantom said:

I wonder at this, 'over 500 websites, blocked' really? Where were they. Also the report conflates a number of topics, online pornography, human trafficking and raids on karaoke bars,  then I read this:

 

'The centre now works closely with the 150-strong TICAC on digital investigation,” he said. The digital forensic science division will recruit 100 bachelor’s degree holders from within the police force and outside for computer, social media and telephone evidence gathering, he said.'

In a separate thread today there is an update 'Govt to build 'Cyber Warrior Army' to monitor Netizens'

 

The op is very long on generalised phrases but very short on specifics.

 

In short what better way can there be to justify and promote a blanket monitoring system by the army of all citizens by way of targeted reports on motherhood issues such as the OP.  With cries of 'shoot em' coming from tv members they already have a cheer squad.

 

Disclaimer: By responding to reports of this nature with a degree of scepticism does not mean I support the abuse of children.

Careful now, fantom.   You're dangerously close to violating TV's unwritten, but well respected rule prohibiting the introduction of reason and logic into this kind of thread.

[sanemax]

58 minutes ago, fantom said:

In short what better way can there be to justify and promote a blanket monitoring system by the army of all citizens by way of targeted reports on motherhood issues such as the OP.  With cries of 'shoot em' coming from tv members they already have a cheer squad.

The internet either needs to be policed or it doesnt .

Considering that people use the internet for illegal activity shows that the internet does need a certain level of policing .

   What is the level of policing necessary ?

Many big websites are already monitored , the extra policing will enable them to investigate the smaller websites, the obscure websites that dont attract much attention from the authorities and which are just visited by a select group of people .

    If you are not doing anything illegal, then, you have nothing to be concerned about

[Moti24]

4 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Police were tipped off by non-governmental organisations to carry out the crackdowns, he said, adding that over 500 child porn websites have since been blocked.

That says it all!

 

Perhaps, if the governmental organisations had been scrutinised more carefully, there wouldn't have been a need for a crackdown!

[Brigante7]

2 hours ago, sanemax said:

The internet either needs to be policed or it doesnt .

Considering that people use the internet for illegal activity shows that the internet does need a certain level of policing .

   What is the level of policing necessary ?

Many big websites are already monitored , the extra policing will enable them to investigate the smaller websites, the obscure websites that dont attract much attention from the authorities and which are just visited by a select group of people .

    If you are not doing anything illegal, then, you have nothing to be concerned about

Until they want to put a camera in your house to observe you 24/7, I mean if you haven’t done anything illegal then you have nothing to be concerned about, right?

 

 

 

Brigante7.

[VBF]

7 hours ago, sanemax said:

The internet either needs to be policed or it doesn't .

Considering that people use the internet for illegal activity shows that the internet does need a certain level of policing .

   What is the level of policing necessary ?

Many big websites are already monitored , the extra policing will enable them to investigate the smaller websites, the obscure websites that dont attract much attention from the authorities and which are just visited by a select group of people .

    If you are not doing anything illegal, then, you have nothing to be concerned about

The problem with that is that "illegal" is too much of a catch-all.  The Internet, is global (hence World Wide Web) The very concept of illegality varies around the world and indeed some respectable western media is blocked in Thailand - lots of it is blocked in the Mid East and China. Blocking something in one country ('net censorship) is merely imposing that country's laws (and morals) upon everyone and is the thin end of the wedge. 

 

Having said that, IMO, the purveyors of kiddie porn are barely human scum and nothing is too evil for them!

 

And in that sentence lies the problem: WHO decides what should or shouldn't be blocked?

I would say kiddie porn should be blocked but that there's nothing wrong with adult porn as long as the participants are consenting adults. Then we get to political comment, the lèse majesté laws, etc. etc.  Sadly, it's not back and white.

[lkv]

4 hours ago, barefootbangkok said:

No mention of "Big Joke" who seems to have inspired the Tourist Police to new heights of competence and prominence but still a fabulous roundup of the scumbags producing child porn.

 

6 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Deputy Tourist Police Commander Pol Maj-General Surachet Hakpal yesterday said that five suspects from three online child pornography networks had been arrested under warrants.

That's him right there, it's just that for some reason they don't call him "Big Joke" anymore in this article.

 

Maybe they finally realised it sounds ridiculous?

[sanemax]

1 hour ago, Brigante7 said:

Until they want to put a camera in your house to observe you 24/7, I mean if you haven’t done anything illegal then you have nothing to be concerned about, right?Brigante7.

Well, thats never going to happen, is it .

No point in being concerned about things that will never happen

[sanemax]

1 hour ago, VBF said:

I would say kiddie porn should be blocked but that there's nothing wrong with adult porn as long as the participants are consenting adults. Then we get to political comment, the lèse majesté laws, etc. etc.  Sadly, it's not back and white.

Adult porn is very much available (and its in color) and not censored* and no complaints from anyone .

   

[VBF]

5 minutes ago, sanemax said:

Adult porn is very much available (and its in color) and not censored* and no complaints from anyone .

   

Precisely my point!  I was responding to your comments about policing the internet and whether it should happen, and by whom. With that in mind, perhaps you'd care to re-read my post as i'm trying to point out that any blanket censorship becomes too intrusive, hence my references to Mid-east and China.

 

It's sort of analogous to the concept of burning books - which authors and most importantly who decides?

[sanemax]

1 minute ago, VBF said:

It's sort of analogous to the concept of burning books - which authors and most importantly who decides?

Let each Country decide what they want to censor .

[VBF]

1 minute ago, sanemax said:

Let each Country decide what they want to censor .

To a point, but once again if a country is ruled by a despotic regime, then the people are kept in the dark. I re-iterate my examples of ME and China, but what about Myanmar and, going back in time, the former Soviet Union, Nazi Germany (pre-internet I realise)?

 

So we return to the question of WHO decides...the leadership or the populace?  In the context of this thread I realise I'm going but it's very much related.

[samsensam]

 

meanwhile child pornography is openly for sale at at least one street market in bangkok and the authorities do absolutely nothing.

[sanemax]

1 minute ago, VBF said:

To a point, but once again if a country is ruled by a despotic regime, then the people are kept in the dark. I re-iterate my examples of ME and China, but what about Myanmar and, going back in time, the former Soviet Union, Nazi Germany (pre-internet I realise)?

So we return to the question of WHO decides...the leadership or the populace?  In the context of this thread I realise I'm going but it's very much related.

The leadership of each Country can decide on what they want to censor and what they want to allow .

   "We" have no right to tell other Countries what they should and should not censor (in their Countries)

[sanemax]

2 minutes ago, samsensam said:

 

meanwhile child pornography is openly for sale at at least one street market in bangkok and the authorities do absolutely nothing.

No, the authorities clamped down on child porn being sold in markets quite a few years ago , why dont you report the shop selling them ?