The Information and Communications Ministry has dropped the criminal lawsuit it planned to file against Google today after the internet giant officially informed Thailand that it will remove controversial video clips from its YouTube website.
ICT Minister Sitthichai Pookaiyaudom said yesterday that he had received a letter from Google’s vice-president Kent Walker to this effect.
The letter said the company did not want to encourage any wrongful act and promote hostile feelings as a result of the video clips depicting His Majesty the King, the minister said.
The letter added that it took time to find the huge number of clips sent to the video-sharing website, but they would be removed immediately after they were spotted, the minister said.
Mr Sitthichai said the company’s letter was a good sign and as a result the ministry decided to withdraw the lawsuit it had planned to file with the Criminal Court today.
The police would have to make their own decision as to whether or not to proceed with a lese majeste charge against the US-based internet firm.
The minister had earlier said the video clips, which depict the King in unflattering ways, were an offence to the feelings of Thai people that foreigners would never understand.
source:Bangkokpost
