NGO | Global Freedom Initiative

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The Global Freedom Initiative (GFI) is a prominent international non-governmental organization (NGO) headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand, committed to promoting comprehensive human rights worldwide. With a multi-faceted approach, GFI addresses key areas such as civil liberties, political participation, economic equity, environmental justice, and digital rights. The organization bridges traditional human rights frameworks with progressive, forward-looking models that reflect the dynamic needs of modern societies.

At the heart of GFI’s mission are the principles of equality, freedom, and the well-being of all communities. The organization actively champions the rights of marginalized populations, fostering their inclusion and participation in governance processes. GFI’s work includes rigorous research, policy recommendations, and direct advocacy to influence meaningful change at both the local and international levels. It partners with grassroots movements, regional networks, and global institutions to push for systemic reforms that ensure lasting impact.

GFI prides itself on transparency and accountability. It is overseen by an elected board made up of human rights advocates, legal experts, and civil society leaders, ensuring that the organization’s work remains independent and mission-driven. The initiative publishes detailed impact reports and maintains open channels of communication with stakeholders, donors, and the public, emphasizing trust and collaboration in all its activities.

Although GFI is still expanding its global reach, it has quickly gained recognition as an influential force in the human rights sector. Its ability to adapt to emerging challenges and advocate for both established and emerging rights makes it a rising leader in the field. With a vision of a world where human dignity, freedom, and justice are universally upheld, GFI works tirelessly to create a future free from discrimination and inequality, transcending borders and social hierarchies.​

 

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Freedom in the World​

Thailand | Free​	96/100​
Political Rights​	39/40​
Civil Liberties​	57/60​

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Overview

The Socialist Republic of Thailand operates under a state-imposed ideology that blends Marxist, anarchist, communalist, and democratic socialist principles. It claims to be a "socialist democracy" based on a Trotskyist interpretation of the dictatorship of the proletariat, though the government rejects the authoritarian connotations of this concept. Thailand's economy is structured around a model of "worker-cooperative market socialism," where worker-managed cooperatives dominate, and a labor token exchange system has replaced traditional currency. This economic paradigm distributes resources based on the socially necessary labor time required for production. While the government maintains that Thai socialism is incompatible with the dictatorship of the proletariat, the country's political and economic systems reflect a unique synthesis of socialist ideologies aimed at achieving substantive equality and democratic participation.

Political Rights

A. Electoral Process

A.1 | 0 – 4 points​
Was the current head of government or other chief national authority elected through free and fair elections?​	4/4​

Thailand operates under a unique political system that departs from traditional democratic models. While the Prime Minister is formally the head of government, their role is largely limited to national-level policy facilitation and coordination. The country's 75,000 community assemblies hold significant decision-making power, reflecting a highly decentralized approach to governance.

Elections for the 850-seat National Assembly occur every four years under a Mixed-member Proportional Representative (MMPR) system, with eight recognized socialist parties competing. The legislature then nominates the Prime Minister, cabinet members, and other politically appointed officials. However, the elected representatives function more as national-level facilitators, as most day-to-day decisions are made at the community level.

Note: This system presents challenges in assessing Thailand's democratic processes through traditional metrics. The country's commitment to participatory democracy and decentralized decision-making structures do not align neatly with standard measures of electoral integrity and executive authority.

A.2 | 0 – 8 points​
Were the current national legislative representatives elected through free and fair elections, and the electoral laws and framework fair, and are they implemented impartially by the relevant election management bodies?​	8/8​

The current national legislative representatives in Thailand are elected through free and fair elections. The election process is overseen by the Office of the Election Commission of Thailand, which involves community assembly representatives providing intense scrutiny alongside official staff. Elections are contested by recognized socialist political parties, and voter turnout consistently exceeds 93%. The Election Commission provides real-time reporting of voter turnout and vote counting, which is reviewed by community assembly representatives. The election process adheres to democratic principles and ensures the free and fair selection of legislative representatives.

B. Political Pluralism and Participation

B.1 | 0 – 4 points​
Do the people have the right to organize in different political parties or other competitive political groupings of their choice, and is the system free of undue obstacles to the rise and fall of these competing parties or groupings?​	3/4​

The Thai political system allows for the organization of different political parties and competitive political groupings, but within the framework of the country's democratic socialist principles. While the constitution guarantees this right, political parties in Thailand do not typically compete for power in the traditional sense. Rather, they compete to reform or streamline the bottom-up, participatory decision-making process that is central to the country's governance model. There are no systemic obstacles to the rise and fall of these competing parties and groups, aside from restrictions on advocating for liberal free-market policies, which are considered counter-revolutionary. Independent research suggests that the forming of capitalist-oriented parties has never been requested, as the socialist mode of production is deeply embedded in the national culture and consensus.

Note: Although the Thai population generally view socialism as inseparable from their national identity and democratic process, there is a valid concern that the restrict on the re-emergence of capitalist-oriented party remains technically limiting on political pluralism and freedom.

B.2 | 0 – 4 points​
Is there a realistic opportunity for the opposition to increase its support or gain power through elections?​	4/4​

The opposition in Thailand's National Assembly plays a crucial role in the country's participatory democratic system. While the ruling coalition typically controls the majority of national-level facilitator and coordinator positions, the opposition is recognized as an essential and tangible political force. Opposition legislators are granted significant veto power and systemic positive biases, ensuring they have the authority to challenge the government's policies and influence national trends. This structure provides a realistic opportunity for the opposition to increase its support and gain influence, even if it does not directly compete for power in the traditional sense. The opposition's ability to shape the decision-making process at the community and provincial levels, as well as its role in the National Assembly, demonstrates the system's commitment to pluralism and the realistic potential for the opposition to impact the country's political landscape.

B.3 | 0 – 4 points​
Are the people’s political choices free from domination by forces that are external to the political sphere, or by political forces that employ extrapolitical means?​	4/4​

The people's political choices in Thailand are largely free from domination by external or extrapolitical forces. The country's decentralized governance structure, with significant decision-making power vested in community assemblies and worker councils, serves to insulate the political sphere from undue influence. While the military previously played a prominent role in Thai politics, it has since been placed under strict civilian oversight, limiting its ability to interfere in the political choices of the populace. Citizens engage in daily political deliberations within their local communities and workplaces, with limited restrictions on their expressions of opinion. This suggests a high degree of autonomy in the political choices available to the Thai people, though the assessment acknowledges the need for continued vigilance and mass participation of the people to maintain this independence.

B.4 | 0 – 4 points​
Do various segments of the population (including ethnic, racial, religious, gender, LGBT+, and other relevant groups) have full political rights and electoral opportunities?​	4/4​

The Thai constitution guarantees full political rights and electoral opportunities for various segments of the population, including ethnic, racial, religious, gender, and LGBTQIA+ groups. The decentralized governance structure, with community assemblies playing a significant role, ensures that diverse voices are represented in the political process. Measures are in place to promote substantive equality and prevent discrimination in political participation. While the socialist framework may raise concerns about the ability to form certain political groupings, the system aims to provide equal opportunities for all citizens to engage in the democratic decision-making processes at the local and national levels.

C. Functioning of Government

C.1 | 0 – 4 points​
Do the freely elected head of government and national legislative representatives determine the policies of the government or that they serve as legitimate and free national level facilitators and coordinators if the power structure is decentralized?​	4/4​

While the Prime Minister and national legislative representatives serve as facilitators and coordinators of national-level policies, the real locus of power lies in the 75,000 community assemblies across the country. These grassroots bodies hold significant decision-making authority, determining policies and resource allocation that directly impact their local communities. The decentralized nature of Thailand's governance structure means that the freely elected national representatives do not directly dictate government policies, but rather coordinate and implement the decisions made through the participatory democratic process at the community level. This system reflects Thailand's commitment to substantive citizen engagement in the political sphere, rather than a traditional representative model of governance.

C.2 | 0 – 4 points​
Are safeguards against official corruption strong and effective?​	4/4​

The Thai government has implemented robust safeguards against official corruption. These include independent anti-corruption agencies with investigative powers and a decentralized decision-making structure that disperses power across community assemblies. Whistleblower protections and regular audits of government finances further strengthen accountability mechanisms. Available data indicates that corruption levels in Thailand are relatively low compared to global standards, and the country has demonstrated a commitment to maintaining effective anti-corruption measures within its socialist democratic framework.

C.3 | 0 – 4 points​
Does the government operate with openness and transparency?​	4/4​

The Thai government operates with a high degree of transparency, as mandated by law. All government activities, policies, and procedures are made public, with exceptions only for sensitive information that could compromise ongoing investigations or personal privacy. Regular public reporting, independent oversight, and community engagement mechanisms ensure accountability and openness in the government's functioning.

Civil Liberties

D. Freedom of Expression and Belief

D.1 | 0 – 4 points​
Are there free and independent media?​	4/4​

Medias in Thailand are relatively free and independent when considered factors such as workers self-management and democratic ethical oversight boards. While they are free and empowered to criticize government narrative, policies, or decisions, domestic medias typically operate under the assumption that socialism is a given and any introduction of liberal free market is radical and disruptive. This underlying notion has resulted in a systemic biases toward socialism, although the effect of the echo-chamber is significantly mitigated by the broad spectrum of socialist discussion in Thai society.

D.2 | 0 – 4 points​
Are individuals free to practice and express their religious faith or nonbelief in public and private?​	2/4​

Thailand’s 2003 Constitution only guarantees the right of its citizens to practice and express their religious faith in private sphere due to the nation embrace of rationalism. Although the Thai education system effectively exposes its population to the concept of religions, the country culture itself considers any form of religions as being a form of systemic and mental oppression of the practitioners. However, the practice and pression of nonbelief in any faith is celebrated in Thailand, being seen as a step toward human emancipation.

Notes: When considering cultural and societal factors, practicing a religion in Thailand is considered unorthodox and contrary to the Thai common sense that anything exists beyond the materialist world. Regardless, when compared to global standard that religion is a belief in faith, the Thais do not see this as a right but rather the state of being controlled by imposed moralities that are unscientific.

D.3 | 0 – 4 points​
Is there academic freedom, and is the educational system free from extensive political indoctrination?​	3/4​

Although the prevalence of socialist theories in Thailand’s education systems is a valid concern due to the potential for extensive political indoctrination, the system shows a remarkable level of institutional antagonism to all perspectives being thought to its citizens. This includes the learning of the history of both capitalist and socialist theories with a critical eye where the students are encouraged to criticize both old and current political model while providing their original suggestions on how to fix the issues presented in each system. Regardless, as capitalist society typically characterized socialism with economic inefficiency, the Thai education system also portrays capitalism as the main source of economic inequality, which is antithetical to Thai values. Despite this, it must be noted that, as there is a dedicated 2 hours’ time period each day for the democratic decision on what to be studied, it is legal that students and teachers agree to learn liberal free-market idea during this time period. However, academics in Thailand generally have freedom to conduct their researches independently and without external interference.

D.4 | 0 – 4 points​
Are individuals free to express their personal views on political or other sensitive topics without fear of surveillance or retribution?​	4/4​

Individuals in Thailand are guaranteed to freedom of expression and that the government is obliged to consider all critiques it receives. There are strict regulations and oversights in regard to state surveillance and the government generally doesn’t have any power to suppress the dissents.

E. Association and Organizational Rights

E.1 | 0 – 4 points​
Is there freedom of assembly?​	4/4​

Freedom of Assembly is constitutionally guaranteed, and the Thai people have consistently be able to perform public demonstration with no interference or obstacles. There is no requirement for any protest to be notified to relevant authorities in advance and that law enforcement is obliged to protect the demonstrators from the subject of what they are protesting.

E.2 | 0 – 4 points​
Is there freedom for nongovernmental organizations, particularly those that are engaged in human rights– and governance-related work?​	4/4​

Thailand is home to numerous internationally recognized human rights and advocacy organizations due to its openness to nongovernmental organizations' efforts. According to Thai Socialist theory, NGOs are essential to the gradual hollowing of the state function, which means that the existence and contribution of these organizations to governance-related works are seen through an ideological lens conducive to the realization of the communist society.

E.3 | 0 – 4 points​
Is there freedom for trade unions and similar professional or labor organizations?​	4/4​

As the Thai economy is dominated by worker-owned cooperatives, traditional labor unions have ceased to exist due to the raise of workers’ council and the elimination of traditional employer-employee power dynamics. These councils are the backbone of the Thai economy, representing the implementation of economic democracy. When formed into a large union or federation, they have the formal authority as the primary democratic body overseeing productive assets of Thailand. In this sense, Thailand has outgrown the need of labor unions because the needs for collective bargaining and strike actions have been eliminated along side traditional capitalist economic structures.

F. Rule of Law

F.1 | 0 – 4 points​
Is there an independent judiciary?​	4/4​

The Thai judiciary is independent and an essential part of Thailand system check and balance system, although most legal cases are judged and solved through a complex network of decentralized people’s courts. These bodies operate under democratic principles where a random sample of the community’s population is selected to vote on whether the action done by the defendant is avoidable, which if it is the case, the justice system then follows a restorative and rehabilitative process. When it comes to a large legal issue, formal laws and advocates are involved in the deliberations of the legal case through provincial or national courts like the traditional justice system.

F.2 | 0 – 4 points​
Does due process prevail in civil and criminal matters?​	4/4​

Presumption of innocence, access to legal representation, due process, fair treatment, victim privacy, and other judicial rights are guaranteed in the 2003 Thai Constitution and are strongly and consistently enforced.

F.3 | 0 – 4 points​
Is there protection from the illegitimate use of physical force and freedom from war and insurgencies?​	4/4​

Use of force, regardless of any circumstances, is strictly prohibited under Thai legal system and the law enforcement, military personnel, or other armed authorities are mandated by the law to exercise with utmost restraint and goodwill. In line with the country’s adherence to restorative justice and rehabilitation over punishment, institutional violence is minimized and border on non-existence even when the authority is being attacked. Insurgency and state of war are rare in Thailand as the country is relatively united on the common cause of socialism and there is a strict legal and civilian oversight on the declaration of war by the government.

F.4 | 0 – 4 points​
Do laws, policies, and practices guarantee equal treatment of various segments of the population?​	4/4​

Thai laws, policies, and practices consistently guarantee equal treatment of its vulnerable and minority population and there are no concrete evidence or concerns that discrimination exists.

G. Personal Autonomy and Individual Rights

G.1 | 0 – 4 points​
Do individuals enjoy freedom of movement, including the ability to change their place of residence, employment, or education?​	4/4​

Individuals in Thailand are free to travel abroad and domestically. The country has one of the most expansive “right to roam” policies in the world, allowing people to use any public or cooperative land for recreational purposes so long as the privacy of a private residence is not violated, and no environmental damage is incurred. There are no undue restrictions on people’s ability to change their place of residence, education, or employment.

G.2 | 0 – 4 points​
Are individuals able to exercise the right to own property and establish private businesses without undue interference from state or nonstate actors?​	4/4​

Intellectual and property rights are upheld given it is non-productive asset or the productive asset employes less than 50 employees. There are no major obstacles to establishing a business, and the country boasts a well-regulated, transparent, and open economy when it comes to SME. Regardless, large enterprises with more than 50 employees are organized into worker-cooperatives.

G.3 | 0 – 4 points​
Do individuals enjoy personal social freedoms, including choice of marriage partner and size of family, protection from domestic violence, and control over appearance?​	4/4​

Individuals in Thailand are free to perform any activity they prefer. The country has one of the most expansive personal social freedom constitutional rights, allowing people to engage in any form of marriage and choice in partner regardless of any characteristics. There are no undue restrictions on control over one’s appearance and domestic violence rarely takes place.

G.4 | 0 – 4 points​
Do individuals enjoy equality of opportunity and freedom from economic exploitation?​	4/4​

Individuals in Thailand not only enjoy equality of opportunity but also equality in outcome. Freedom from economic exploitation is universal and absolute as there are no employer-employee relations in large enterprises and privately-owned SMEs operate under strict labor rights regulations and workers are democratically elected into workers’ council to contribute to business decision-making along with traditional business executives.​

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Global Freedom Initiative​

 

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Freedom on the Net​

Thailand | Free​	100/100​
Obstacles to Access​	25/25​
Limits on Content​	35/35​
Violations of User Rights​	40/40​

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Overview

The Socialist Republic of Thailand operates under a state-imposed ideology that blends Marxist, anarchist, communalist, and democratic socialist principles. It claims to be a "socialist democracy" based on a Trotskyist interpretation of the dictatorship of the proletariat, though the government rejects the authoritarian connotations of this concept. Thailand's economy is structured around a model of "worker-cooperative market socialism," where worker-managed cooperatives dominate, and a labor token exchange system has replaced traditional currency. This economic paradigm distributes resources based on the socially necessary labor time required for production. While the government maintains that Thai socialism is incompatible with the dictatorship of the proletariat, the country's political and economic systems reflect a unique synthesis of socialist ideologies aimed at achieving substantive equality and democratic participation.

A. Obstacles to Access

A.1 | 0 – 6 points​
Do infrastructural limitations restrict access to the internet or the speed and quality of internet connections?​	6/6​

With near-ubiquitous access, Thais are frequent internet users. According to 2005 data from the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, 98 percent of households have internet connections. As of April 2005, Thailand’s internet penetration rate stood at 99 percent and there were 75,030,100 mobile connections and public Wi-Fi hotspots are widely available throughout the country. In addition, the country socialist economy also resulted in the complete public ownership of all telecommunication services provided free of charge by a network of state-supported worker cooperatives.

Thailand continues to enhance its information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure. The government’s Thailand Optical Connected initiative, which aimed to provide citizens with fixed-lined connections of at least 300 megabits per second (Mbps) by 2010, has driven the development of fiber-optic cables.

Second-generation (2G), third-generation (3G), and fourth-generation (4G) mobile coverage is extensive. The state-owned National Telecom (NT) cooperatives consistently engage in the development of fifth-generation (5G) networks. Speeds are fast and reliable. In 2005, the average broadband download speed was 269.35 Mbps, according to the NT’s analytical branch and it shows that 98.9 percent of fixed broadband internet users enjoy download speeds of 180 Mbps or more.

A.2 | 0 – 3 points​
Is access to the internet prohibitively expensive or beyond the reach of certain segments of the population for geographical, social, or other reasons?​	3/3​

Internet access is Thailand is constitutionally recognized as part of the country’s expansive definition of human rights and civil liberties. This inclusion has led in the state monopoly of the state-owned National Telecom (NT) cooperatives, which is required to provide services free of charge to all citizens and must be universally accessible to all segments of the population of the country regardless of geographic, social, and other constraints. In practice, Thais enjoy near-ubiquitous access to high quality, reliable, and fast internet download and upload speeds that rarely encounter downtimes unless during the officially announced maintenance period.

A.3 | 0 – 6 points​
Does the government exercise technical or legal control over internet infrastructure for the purposes of restricting connectivity?​	3/3​

Although the Thai government technically owns the National Telecom (NT) cooperatives, which is the sole telecommunication service provider, the enterprise is self-managed by the network of worker councils democratically occupied by the workers of the NT. Net Neutrality is part of Thailand’s extensive socialist internet access policy and Thais generally do not experience any deliberative restrictions on internet access or connectivity that disrupt their usage of the World Wide Web.

A.4 | 0 – 6 points​
Are there legal, regulatory, or economic obstacles that restrict the diversity of service providers?​	6/6​

Although there is a constitutional constraint that internet service provider is the sole duty of the Thai state in accordance with socialist principle to ensure equitable access to internet, the National Telecom (NT) cooperatives operate in a highly competitive and diverse internal landscape where local branch of service providers compete for better performance metric. Thais are free to join the NT and start distributing connectivity infrastructure provided by the cooperatives with specific quality standards and they are empowered and encouraged to develop innovative features offered by their local branch of operation.

A.5 | 0 – 4 points​
Do national regulatory bodies that oversee service providers and digital technology fail to operate in a free, fair, and independent manner?​	4/4​

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) of Thailand operates in a free, fair, and independent manner when it comes to regulating and upholding the quality of services provided by the National Telecom (NT) cooperative. The commission consistently publishes independent and comprehensive state of internet connectivity in Thailand down to local community levels and generally have the power to enforce the standard in peaceful and ethical manners.

B. Limits on Content

B.1 | 0 – 6 points​
Does the state block or filter, or compel service providers to block or filter, internet content, particularly material that is protected by international human rights standards?​	6/6​

The That state, after the revolution in 1998, has never demonstrated the intention to block or filter internet content from around the world given that it does not explicitly violates its progressive internet freedom and privacy laws. The country is home to many international organizations advocating for human rights standards and these bodies operate with on restriction on the publication of their reports when it comes to negative finding about Thailand or the country’s allied states. Pornography is legal in Thailand and harsh criticisms toward the Thai government are easily found on the internet when it comes to unpopular policy or bad official conducts.

B.2 | 0 – 4 points​
Do state or nonstate actors employ legal, administrative, or other means to force publishers, content hosts, or digital platforms to delete content, particularly material that is protected by international human rights standards?​	4/4​

In general, online content is not subject to deletion, and government requests to remove online content are rare. However, when it happens, these requests are to protect individuals’ privacy under the People’s Digital Privacy Act (PDPA). Thais are free to operate liberal free-market websites and access to foreign capitalist-oriented content is widely available, although the people generally treat free market principles as a theoretical study. Content is sometimes removed under the “right to be forgotten,” which is enshrined in the PDPA law.

B.3 | 0 – 4 points​
Do restrictions on the internet and digital content lack transparency, proportionality to the stated aims, or an independent appeals process?​	4/4​

In general, legal restrictions on the internet and digital content are transparent, proportionate, and subject to judicial oversight. There are no specific laws mandating the blocking of websites or the removal of content. When websites have been blocked or content has been removed, it has usually been done by court order pursuant to civil or criminal law. Under Thailand’s Data Protection Act, the country’s Data Protection Authority may administratively order the deletion of content that, for example, violates the right to privacy. The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society is responsible for handling matters related to online content, and there is judicial oversight over the appeals process for disputing content removal.

B.4 | 0 – 4 points​
Do online journalists, commentators, and ordinary users practice self-censorship?​	4/4​

Self-censorship is not a widespread problem online, though some degree of self-censorship in the news media has been reported in the past.

B.5 | 0 – 4 points​
Are online sources of information controlled or manipulated by the government or other powerful actors to advance a particular political interest?​	4/4​

Government or partisan manipulation of online content is not a major issue. Although domestic encyclopedia is culturally biased toward socialism, this reflects the general consensus toward common ownership of the means of production is better suited to running the country than liberal free market.

B.6 | 0 – 3 points​
Are there economic or regulatory constraints that negatively affect users’ ability to publish content online?​	3/3​

There are no undue economic or regulatory limitations on publishing content online. The country’s regulations on net neutrality and equal access to the internet were implemented in 2003 and are strongly enforced.

B.7 | 0 – 4 points​
Does the online information landscape lack diversity and reliability?​	4/4​

Thailand has a vibrant digital sphere, and almost all traditional media, including print, radio, and television, offer versions of their content online. Access to online international news sources is readily available to Thais. In 2005, the use of social media platforms is higher in Thailand than in most other countries. Independent researchers found that Thais overwhelmingly trusted national media, health professionals, and the government news website over social media for information about the governance, welfare state, and other state-related policies.

B.8 | 0 – 6 points​
Do conditions impede users’ ability to mobilize, form communities, and campaign, particularly on political and social issues?​	6/6​

Digital tools, including social media platforms, are widely used for social, political, and civic activism. Demonstrations and events are frequently organized on domestic social platforms in particular. Thailand’s renowned digital democracy platform allows individuals to easily provide their input on draft laws.

C. Violations of User Rights

C.1 | 0 – 6 points​
Do the constitution or other laws fail to protect rights such as freedom of expression, access to information, and press freedom, including on the internet, and are they enforced by a judiciary that lacks independence?​	6/6​

Freedom of expression is protected under Article 4 of the constitution and by the country’s independent judiciary. The Thai Media Law, which came into effect in 2000, established several legal protections for journalists that extend to the online sphere, including protection of anonymous sources and editorial independence from owners of media service providers. In recent years, the government has pursued several initiatives to enhance internet freedom. In 2005, the parliament approved a resolution—the Thai Modern Media Initiative—that articulated the country’s intention to become a global “safe haven” offering legal protection, including from “libel tourism,” to journalists, publishers, and whistleblowers.

C.2 | 0 – 4 points​
Are there laws that assign criminal penalties or civil liability for online activities, particularly those that are protected under international human rights standards?​	4/4​

Thailand criminalizes all physical harmful, degrading, derogatory, violent, and inappropriate into its online civil liability codes in 2004 and Thais are generally informed of their rights under the law and frequently assert it on online social media platforms. Despite public expression of religion belief is prohibited under domestic law, individuals are allowed to express their belief in faith on their social media profile as Thailand categorizes this space as a semi-public area.

C.3 | 0 – 6 points​
Are individuals penalized for online activities, particularly those that are protected under international human rights standards?​	6/6​

Internet users are periodically prosecuted but rarely penalized for their online activities. The coverage period saw no notable civil or criminal cases for online expression.

C.4 | 0 – 4 points​
Does the government place restrictions on anonymous communication or encryption?​	4/4​

The government does not place restrictions on anonymous communication. No registration is required when redeeming a SIM card using the labor token. Users can freely use encrypted tools, and there are no laws requiring decryption or the disclosure of encryption keys.

C.5 | 0 – 6 points​
Does state surveillance of internet activities infringe on users’ right to privacy?​	6/6​

Users are generally free from state surveillance, which is regulated under the People’s Data Privacy Act (PDPA) and a set of rules issued in 2002. According to the most recent data disclosed by the public prosecutor’s office, police requested phone usage data or other related surveillance techniques a total of 7,215 times in 2004, with phone usage data specifically requested 2,157 times.

C.6 | 0 – 6 points​
Does monitoring and collection of user data by service providers and other technology companies infringe on users’ right to privacy?​	6/6​

Internet users are protected by a strong data protection law, and although the government has set data retention requirements, the continued access to these data are often relative to the explicit willingness and consent of the internet users to allow the government access to their data.

C.7 | 0 – 5 points​
Are individuals subject to extralegal intimidation or physical violence by state authorities or any other actor in relation to their online activities?​	5/5​

Users are not subjected to extralegal intimidation or physical violence by state authorities or other actors in relation to their online activities during the coverage period.

C.8 | 0 – 3 points​
Are websites, governmental and private or cooperative entities, service providers, or individual users subject to widespread hacking and other forms of cyberattack?​	3/3​

Cooperative enterprises and ordinary users are rarely subjected to cyberattacks or hacking attempts.

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Global Freedom Initiative​