Thai officials ban YouTube

BANGKOK - YouTube, the world's leading video sharing service, was blocked from being accessed in Thailand after the appearance of anti-monarchist films on the site. But the Google-owned company has reacted by offering to help the Thai authorities block individual files, rather than its entire operation.

Initial move was made on Wednesday by Thailand's Information and Communication Ministry after a user posted videos mocking the ruling monarch King Bhumibol and Google-owned site refused to delete the offending files.

Files included a slide show with graffiti across the king's face and a pair of feet above his head. Feet are considered dirty in Thailand and such depiction is highly offensive. Thai public was not allowed to obtain detail of the videos as press would have risked breaking laws on lese majesty.

But even after the website was blocked to normal users, the most tech-savvy were still able to access the site through use of servers outside the country. Although the user who created the original clip has now removed it, two more anti-monarchist videos were added to the site on Friday.

"I am waiting to hear from [YouTube] about what can be done," information minister Sitthichai Pookaiyaudom, said. "If YouTube can't suggest a solution that we can effectively implement, then we have no choice but to keep the ban."

YouTube said Saturday that it would "educate" authorities in the workings of the site in order that Thailand could prevent screening of individual video files, rather than knock out its entire site.

"While we will not take down videos that do not violate our policies and will not assist in censorship, we have offered to educate the Thai ministry about YouTube and how it works," YouTube spokesman Julie Supan told local newspapers.

It is not clear whether co-operation would involve allowing the ministry to actively target specific files with its blocking technology or whether it would involve a dialogue between ministry and site operator in a fashion similar to the recourse that copyright owners have.

Nor is it clear whether YouTube will help Thai authorities uncover the sources responsible for uploading the offensive videos. Legislators from across the political spectrum have called for punishment of offenders.

Company will have to tread fine line if it is to avoid further criticism from freedom of speech groups. YouTube-parent Google and Yahoo! have both been accused of assisting Chinese authorities with actions against government critics.

Like China, Thai authorities regularly use technical means to block access to websites it deems offensive or illegal. According to free speech movement, Freedom Against Censorship Thailand, some 45,000 websites are currently blocked. Most sites concerned are believed to be pornographic, though the military-backed regime installed after coup last September also backs political sites. These are largely connected to ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and coverage of the ongoing insurgency in the South of the country.

In a country split between supporters of the old and new regimes, town and countryside; Buddhists and Muslims, reverence for the King has been one small area of unity in Thailand. Last week a Swiss national was jailed for ten years for damaging portraits of the King.

But the King's endorsement of a military regime which has so far failed to cure many of the ills it supposedly took power to cure, may now be tarnishing even his reputation.

Last month YouTube was banned and blocked in Turkey after it carried videos allegedly offensive to the memory of national hero Kemal Attaturk. Site was allowed back after two days.