Alarm over Thai cyber agency plan

BANGKOK: A proposed cybersecurity law in Thailand would give a new government agency sweeping powers to spy on Internet traffic, order content removal or seize computers without judicial oversight, alarming businesses and activists.

Civil liberties advocates, Internet companies and business groups are protesting the planned legislation, saying it sacrifices privacy and the rule of law, according to interviews and documents reviewed by Reuters.

The law is likely to be approved by year-end.

It would enable the new National Cybersecurity Committee (NCSC) to access the computers of individuals or private companies, make copies of information and enter private property without court orders.