Clubhouse becomes platform for Thai dissidents, government issues warning
Thailand on Wednesday warned Clubhouse users not to break the law after the audio social media app appeared almost overnight as a monarchy chat platform, the app’s latest example. fast growing angering governments in Asia.
Digital Minister Puttipong Punnakanta said Thai authorities were monitoring Clubhouse users and political groups on the app were distorting information and potentially violating laws.
A large number of Thai users have joined the Clubhouse in recent days after Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a prominent Japanese critic of the Thai palace, joined on Friday and started discussing the monarchy.
Clubhouse, launched last year, allows users to host audio chats. It has grown in popularity over the past two months, especially after Tesla CEO Elon Musk appeared there last month.
“What needs to be said will be said. It’s risky but it should be encouraged, because the more we talk about it, the more these discussions become the norm,” Pavin, who had gained more than 70,000 followers during his first five days on the app, told Reuters. “These exercises help to boost courage.”
Youth protests last year focused on demands for reforms of the royal system in Thailand, a topic long considered taboo. Since the protests began, at least 59 people have been summoned or charged under Thai lese majesty law for not insulting or defaming the king.
Audience increases
The Thai government regularly uses a cybercrime law to prosecute critics of the monarchy for national security reasons. He has already cracked down on those criticisms on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
Pavin’s audience rose from around 300 on Friday to over 12,000 on Tuesday evening, when he discussed King Maha Vajiralongkorn in a room that quickly reached the app’s maximum capacity. Other theaters criticizing the Thai government and the use of the lese majesty law are also popular, with many exiled critics speaking about their experiences.
The rapid rise of the app has caught the attention of other governments in the region. Earlier this month, China blocked access to the app after a brief period in which thousands of mainland users joined in often censored discussions in China, including on detention camps. of Xinjiang and the Hong Kong National Security Law.
Some pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong have gained thousands of followers for the app, although users so far appear to have stopped holding public talks about reviving protests that could draw the ire of Beijing.
Indonesia said on Wednesday that Clubhouse had not yet registered with authorities and could be banned if it did not comply with local regulations.
Indonesia, which requires tech platforms to register, has already banned Reddit, Vimeo and many porn sites.
