Thailand urges care over content as Lazada promotion angers royalists

A view of a part of on-line retailer Lazada’s warehouse in Depok, south of Jakarta, Indonesia March 26, 2018. Image taken March 26, 2018. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside/File Picture

BANGKOK, Could 7 (Reuters) – Thailand on Saturday warned towards the creation of on-line content material that risked insulting the nation’s monarchy, after a video by a social media influencer selling e-commerce platform Lazada incensed royalists, who stated it was mocking the palace.

Thai legislation prescribes punishments of as much as 15 years in jail for every offence if discovered responsible of defaming, insulting or threatening King Maha Vajiralongkorn and his closest household.

The video, which has since been taken down, was selling Lazada’s Could 5 sale and featured a lady wearing a standard Thai costume sitting in a wheelchair and enjoying the function of an influencer’s mom.

Royalists complained the lady within the wheelchair was a veiled reference to a royal member of the family. The video didn’t use the language utilized by the royal household, nor point out any of its members.

In movies posted on Fb, the influencer, Aniwat “Nara” Prathumthin, stated the clip was a parody of a well-known Thai cleaning soap opera and informed critics the perceived royal insult was “all in your creativeness”.

Lazada, the Southeast Asian arm of Alibaba Group Holding (9988.HK), in an announcement apologised for the “emotional injury” the video had triggered and stated it ought to have been extra cautious.

Authorities spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana stated such content material risked damaging the popularity of manufacturers.

“Allow us to warn entrepreneurs, influencers and content material creators to watch out about presenting content material or promotions that reference appearances or people of the establishment that every one Thais worship and love,” Thanakorn stated in an announcement.

“That is inappropriate, and won’t solely upset each Thai within the nation, but additionally destroy the picture and popularity of the model. It may be towards the legislation.”

The incident follows an April Idiot’s prank tweeted by a employees member at price range airline Thai Vietjet Air, an offshoot of Vietnam’s Vietjet Aviation JSC (VJC.HM), a few new path to Munich that stirred anger amongst royalists, who stated it was a hidden joke in regards to the Thai king spending time in Germany. The airline apologised. learn extra

Reporting by Patpicha Tanakasempipat; Enhancing by Martin Petty and David Holmes

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