VOA慢速英语--泰国的反假新闻中心加剧了人们对新闻限制的担忧

Thailand's Anti-Fake¹ News Center Fuels Concerns over Press Restrictions²

Thailand plans to set up a center to fight the spread of fake news on social media and the internet. Government officials have said they expect the center to open by next month.

Thai rights groups and opposition³ parties are concerned. They fear that officials may use the new center to target and silence government critics.

In elections this past March, voters returned to power the military leaders who seized power in 2014. After the vote, Thailand’s armed forces arrested hundreds of people for critizing the military and protesting the ouster of the civilian⁴ government. Some of the criticism appeared on website or social media.

Thailand’s Digital Economy and Society Minister announced plans for the center two months ago. The country is among several Southeast Asian nations taking steps against online fake news.

The state-operated National News Bureau of Thailand later reported that the center would open by November 1. Its job is to examine fake news stories found online and react to any untruthful reports that could endanger peace and security.

The center will have its own website and work with the messaging software application Line. The news bureau said the center would deal mainly with issues like natural disasters, the economy and finance⁵, health products and government policy.

However, opposition parties and rights groups say the history of the military rulers and the government that has replaced them provide reason to worry.

Sunai Phasuk is a researcher working in Thailand for the rights group Human Rights Watch. She told VOA “there are serious concerns that the…fake news center of the government will be yet another tool for censorship.”

People working for Thailand’s digital economy and society minister told VOA that no one was available to comment for this story.

Government critics are worried that the center will have the power to arrest people or take legal action against them.

The digital economy minister "has made it clear that the center will…[be] authorized⁶ to prosecute⁷ people with various laws," Sunai said.

Arthit Suriyawongkul is a co-founder of the Thai Netizen Network, which speaks up for freedom of speech online. He is also worried about the planned center.

Arthit said that Thai officials have too often called critical opinion "fake news.”

He added, "We found that the effort...is actually targeted [at] those [who are] anti-government.”

Thailand is not alone.

Lasse Schuldt is with the law department at Thailand's Thammasat University. He said that Southeast Asia has become a test ground for laws against “fake news.”

Malaysia and Singapore have gotten the most attention for recent legislation⁸ that bans “fake news.” But Schuldt noted⁹ that other countries in the area have their own laws governing fake news.

In Thailand, the Computer Crimes Act makes it a crime to share false information online. Vietnam and Indonesia have similar ‘fake news” centers.

I’m Jonathan Evans.

Words in This Story

fake – adj. something that is not real; a copy or reproduction; claiming to be something that one is not

online – adj. connected to or controlled by a computer or a computer network

censorship – n. the suppression of news reports, books or films that are considered a threat to security

prosecute – v. to take legal action against someone or something

1 fake   

vt.伪造，造假，假装；n.假货，赝品

参考例句：

• He can tell a fake from the original.他能分辨出赝品和真品。
• You can easily fake up an excuse to avoid going out with him.你可以很容易地编造一个借口而不与他一同外出。

2 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

3 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

4 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

5 finance   

n.财务管理，财政，金融，财源，资金

参考例句：

• She is an expert in finance.她是一名财政专家。
• A finance house made a bid to buy up the entire company.一家信贷公司出价买下了整个公司。

6 authorized   

a.委任的，许可的

参考例句：

• An administrative order is valid if authorized by a statute.如果一个行政命令得到一个法规的认可那么这个命令就是有效的。

7 prosecute   

vt.告发；进行；vi.告发，起诉，作检察官

参考例句：

• I am trying my best to prosecute my duties.我正在尽力履行我的职责。
• Is there enough evidence to prosecute?有没有起诉的足够证据？

8 legislation   

n.立法，法律的制定；法规，法律

参考例句：

• They began to draft legislation.他们开始起草法规。
• The liberals band together against the new legislation.自由党员联合一致反对新的立法。

9 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。