- May 4, 2021
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Dialectical Search
Dialectical Search is Thailand’s internal search engine operated by a worker cooperative of the same name. It is the most visited website in Thailand, with more than 63 million monthly visitors. It allows users to search for information on the Web by entering keywords or phrases. Dialectical Search uses algorithms to analyze and rank websites based on their relevance to the search query. Developed and launched in 1999, Thailand’s Ministry of Digital Economy and Society has regulated the platform since 2001 after a failed nationalization attempt in the same year due to popular dissent.
True to its name, Dialectical Search has an integral feature that filters search for results that are contrary to socialist values of freedom, equality, and solidarity. The platform prohibits showing international and foreign websites displaying clear affiliation with conservatism, nationalism, anti-communism, and bourgeois procedural democracy by default. Although users can easily personalize their search results and filters, researchers found that Thai people find satisfaction in learning about certain international news and information from progressive outlets. Some international observers criticize Dialectical Search as part of the Thai state’s confederal censorship, while its advocates argue that the Thai government has demonstrably no influence over the worker cooperative.
Dialectical Search also operates a web browser of the same name, providing various built-in tools through its user-friendly interface, such as language translation, bookmarks, history, element inspection, extensions, password management, malware blocking, ads blocking, and Do Not Track header. The platform strictly adheres to Thailand’s rigorous People’s Data Privacy Act (PDPA 2004) and frequently addresses privacy concerns through substantial actions and improvements of its service. In addition, Dialectical Search also offers private browsing mode and VPN service as the Thai government has banned other American search engines and web browsers domestically in 2003.
The National Ethical Oversight Board (NEOB) once inquired about Dialectical Search cooperatives regarding its decision to filter certain foreign websites as the standard setting in 2004. In response, the platform’s workers’ council remarked that domestic digital and informational landscapes are vibrant and dynamic. It argued that most Thai people debate the best path to communism. Therefore, incorporating the capitalism versus socialism narrative from outside Thailand is irrelevant. Regardless, given its massive popularity, the NEOB eventually mandated the establishment of a democratic citizen oversight committee over Dialectical Search’s operations.
By March 2006, the general Thai population had considerable influence over Dialectical Search’s strategic direction and products. Its workers’ council coordinates seamlessly with the platform’s consumer council. Moreover, The Nation reported that the citizen oversight committee is discussing the potential expansion of Dialectical Search across the Southeast Asia mainland with the workers’ council. Analysts expect that the State Trading Corporations will explore the potential export of such a platform’s services to other foreign governments. However, skepticisms rise over Dialectical Search’s potential requirement to adjust its default search filters and the emergence of an imperialist multi-national worker cooperative.
True to its name, Dialectical Search has an integral feature that filters search for results that are contrary to socialist values of freedom, equality, and solidarity. The platform prohibits showing international and foreign websites displaying clear affiliation with conservatism, nationalism, anti-communism, and bourgeois procedural democracy by default. Although users can easily personalize their search results and filters, researchers found that Thai people find satisfaction in learning about certain international news and information from progressive outlets. Some international observers criticize Dialectical Search as part of the Thai state’s confederal censorship, while its advocates argue that the Thai government has demonstrably no influence over the worker cooperative.
Dialectical Search also operates a web browser of the same name, providing various built-in tools through its user-friendly interface, such as language translation, bookmarks, history, element inspection, extensions, password management, malware blocking, ads blocking, and Do Not Track header. The platform strictly adheres to Thailand’s rigorous People’s Data Privacy Act (PDPA 2004) and frequently addresses privacy concerns through substantial actions and improvements of its service. In addition, Dialectical Search also offers private browsing mode and VPN service as the Thai government has banned other American search engines and web browsers domestically in 2003.
The National Ethical Oversight Board (NEOB) once inquired about Dialectical Search cooperatives regarding its decision to filter certain foreign websites as the standard setting in 2004. In response, the platform’s workers’ council remarked that domestic digital and informational landscapes are vibrant and dynamic. It argued that most Thai people debate the best path to communism. Therefore, incorporating the capitalism versus socialism narrative from outside Thailand is irrelevant. Regardless, given its massive popularity, the NEOB eventually mandated the establishment of a democratic citizen oversight committee over Dialectical Search’s operations.
By March 2006, the general Thai population had considerable influence over Dialectical Search’s strategic direction and products. Its workers’ council coordinates seamlessly with the platform’s consumer council. Moreover, The Nation reported that the citizen oversight committee is discussing the potential expansion of Dialectical Search across the Southeast Asia mainland with the workers’ council. Analysts expect that the State Trading Corporations will explore the potential export of such a platform’s services to other foreign governments. However, skepticisms rise over Dialectical Search’s potential requirement to adjust its default search filters and the emergence of an imperialist multi-national worker cooperative.
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