VZCZCXRO3645
RR RUEHCHI
DE RUEHBK #1942/01 0932337
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 032337Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6016
INFO RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI 3385

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 001942 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR IIP/G/EAP (EKENEALY); INFO EAP/PD (JDAVIES, DFIRESTEIN) 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP KPAO TH
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR U.S. SPEAKER FOR DVC ON DELINEATION OF LEGAL 
AUTHORITY FOR CYBER CRIME LAW ENFORCEMENT 
 
¶1. Program Description: A 120 minute-long digital video conference 
 
¶2. Date and Time of Program: APRIL 23, 2007, 9:00-11:00PM EST (APRIL 
24, 8:00-10:00AM Bangkok time) 
 
¶3. Background: In January 2007, Thailand's National Legislative 
Assembly (NLA) approved for consideration a Cyber Crime Bill, which 
is currently under scrutiny of the Special Committee appointed by 
the NLA. The main purpose of this review is to amend some legal 
concepts and to make it much more practical and efficient in taking 
legal action against cyber crime perpetrators.  The Cyber Crime Bill 
will establish criteria to determine criminal offenses committed by 
cyber crime perpetrators; establish a special cyber cop agency or 
entity to enforce this law by giving it more power to compile 
electronic evidence sent via the Internet and by electronic devices; 
and empower the State through the Ministry of Information and 
Communications Technology (MICT) under the court' s review to block 
or close websites which display content illegal under Thai law, such 
as pornography, terrorist support, and contempt of the King. 
Currently there is no law enabling the government to order Internet 
Service Providers (ISPs) to close websites containing this sort of 
content.  The MICT makes formal requests of Internet service 
providers to block websites "voluntarily". 
 
The cyber crime law will formalize current blurred lines of cyber 
crime investigation oversight and cyber crime law enforcement 
authority among Thai Government bodies. There remains substantial 
debate among the Thai drafters on how the Thai government should 
organize itself internally to deal with the investigative, law 
enforcement, and judicial roles it will be taking on. 
 
The Members of the Special Committee are now studying problems, 
solutions and experiences of U.S. federal, state, and local 
authorities in enforcing cyber crime laws in the US, especially 
during the initial period when the FBI, local police, sheriffs or 
magistrate courts first started cooperating on these issues.  The 
Special Committee is also interested in learning about U.S. 
experience in arresting hackers (such as Kevin Mitnick) and about 
computer forensics data compilation from online service providers 
(OSPs), Internet service providers (ISPs) and telecom operators, 
before passing this Bill to the NLA for further promulgation. 
 
This is the second of what will be a three-part DVC series. The 
first DVC on Internet Censorship and Regulation took place March 15, 
¶2007. A speaker request for our third DVC on Computer Forensics will 
follow SEPTEL. 
 
¶4. Purpose of Program: 
a) To explain the interrelationships and legal lines of authority 
among federal, state, and local law enforcement bodies and the 
courts, with emphasis on fighting cyber crimes; 
b) To be a resource to the Thai cyber crime bill drafting committee 
in its deliberations over the legal and administrative purview of 
the proposed Cyber cop authority; 
c) To encourage coverage of this issue by Thai media 
 
¶5. Type of Speaker Requested: The drafting committee is looking to 
the U.S. experience for information on how USG (federal) law 
enforcement branches like the Departments of Justice and Homeland 
Security, and state and local law enforcement officials cooperate 
and work with the courts to bring cyber crime perpetrators to 
justice.  Post seeks a legal expert with both experience in cyber 
crime prosecution and a law enforcement background who is also very 
familiar with the administrative and legal authority of federal, 
state, and local law enforcement officials in the U.S.  This person 
should be knowledgeable about any problems of jurisdiction that have 
arisen in the establishment of these lines of authority in the U.S., 
particularly since the establishment of the Department of Homeland 
Security and passage of the U.S. Patriot Act, and how they were 
resolved.  Some knowledge of Thailand and recent political 
developments would be useful but not required. 
 
¶6. Anticipated Audiences:  Panelists will be members of the cyber 
crime bill drafting committee; the Minister of Information and 
Communications Technology, who chairs the drafting committee, will 
be invited.  About 15-20 people in all, including academicians and 
select members of the local media, are expected to attend. 
Simultaneous English-Thai translation will be provided. 
 
¶7. Funding: All speaker costs will be covered by Post's program 
funds. 
 
¶8. Program Contact Information: 
a) Program Officer: 
Mr. William Flens 
Public Diplomacy Officer 
Tel: (66-2) 205-4849; Fax: (66-2) 650-8924 
Mobile: (66-81) 174-9012 
E-mail: Flensw@state.gov 
 
 
BANGKOK 00001942  002 OF 002 
 
 
b) Program Assistant 
Bussabonglahwan Pattaro 
Press Specialist 
Tel: (66-2) 205-4418; Fax: (66-2) 650-8919 
Mobile: (66-81) 833-1112 
E-mail: Pattaro@state.gov 
 
ARVIZU