COVID-19 Civic Freedom Tracker
Keep Civic Space Healthy
This tracker monitors government responses to the pandemic that affect civic freedoms and human rights, focusing on emergency laws. For information about our methodology, click here.
For more information and analysis by region, click here.
The COVID-19 Civic Freedom Tracker is a collaborative effort by the ICNL, ECNL, and our global network of partners, with generous research support from the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, Fionnuala D. Ní Aoláin. This is an ongoing effort, and we welcome you to email us at adeblock@icnl.org and simona@ecnl.org to share additional resources.
Local Officials Empowered to Enact COVID-19 Movement Restrictions
Prime Minister Prayut Chan O-cha announces on his Facebook Page that Provincial Governors will be allowed to impose curfews and close public venues to control the spread of COVID-19.
(See primary source or citation here)Introduced 24 Apr 2021
Issue(s): Emergency
Type: order
Lockdown in Samut Sakhon Province
The Samut Sakhon governor imposed a nightly curfew from 10 pm - 5 am and prohibited movement out of the province. Migrant workers not allowed to travel in or out of the province, while Thai nationals can travel to other provinces after reporting their destination to the authorities.
(See primary source or citation here)Introduced 20 Dec 2020 Extended through 3 January 2021
Issue(s): Discrimination, Movement
Type: order
Declaration of a State of Emergency
The Prime Minister declared a state of emergency in Bangkok, asserting that the escalating protests by pro-democracy groups contravened the law and the constitution, undermined measures to curtail Covid-19, and harmed national security and public safety. The decree prohibits gatherings of more than five people in Bangkok and institutes a nationwide ban on publishing and broadcasting news that could incite fear.
(See primary source or citation here)Introduced 15 Oct 2020 Lifted on 10/22/2020
Issue(s): Assembly, Press Freedom, Expression
Type: order
Declaration of a State of Emergency
The Prime Minister declared a State of Emergency in Thailand on account of COVID-19. The state of emergency allows the government to restrict travel, declare curfews, and shut down media spreading false information.
(See primary source or citation here)Introduced 26 Mar 2020 Extended multiple times, through 30 November 2020
Issue(s): Emergency
Type: order
Order Issued under 2005 Decree on Administration in Emergency Situations
The ministerial decree among other things bars reporting or spreading of information regarding COVID-19 which is untrue and may cause public fear, as well as deliberate distortion of information which causes misunderstanding and hence affects peace and order or public morals. The decree empowers authorities to order journalists and media groups to correct reports deemed incorrect, and allows authorities to pursue charges against journalists under the Computer Crimes Act, which allows for five-year prison penalties for violations. The decree also bans all gatherings.
(See primary source or citation here)Introduced 25 Mar 2020
Issue(s): Assembly, Disinformation, Press Freedom, Expression, Access to Information
Type: order
Regulation No. 27 Issued under Section 9 of the Royal Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situations B.E. 2548 (2005)
The Regulation establishes a curfew for certain provinces, including the Bangkok metropolitan area, between 9:00pm and 4:00am. Gatherings of more than 5 persons are prohibited. The Regulation also "prohibits the spread or dissemination of news (whether by books, publications or any other media) that includes content which may: (i) incite fear among the public, or (ii) intentionally distort information to cause misunderstanding in emergency situations which affects the security of the state or the public's good morals across Thailand." Violators could face a fine of up to THB 40,000 and/or imprisonment up to 2 years.
Regulation No. 28 of 19 July 2021 further tightened movement restrictions in Bangkok and other areas with high COVID-19 rates.
(See primary source or citation here)Introduced 12 Jul 2021
Issue(s): Assembly, Disinformation, Press Freedom, Expression, Movement
Type: regulation
Defamation Lawsuits Against Critics
The Prime Minister's office filed defamation legal actions against more than 25 celebrities who had expressed criticism of the government's handling of the pandemic.
(See primary source or citation here)Introduced 23 Jul 2021
Issue(s): Expression
Type: practice
COVID-19 Fake News Task Force
Thailand Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has set up a center to investigate COVID-19 "fake news". DSI Director-General Korawat Panprapakorn stated that the task force will investigate attempts to spread false news to mislead the public about COVID-19, with a focus on online platforms. The task force will submit reports to the Justice Ministry.
(See primary source or citation here)Introduced 3 May 2021
Issue(s): Disinformation
Type: practice
Increased Crackdown on Peaceful Protesters Following Emergency Decree
Since the imposition of the COVID-19 Emergency Decree on March 26, 2020, civil society groups have reported increased detention and harassment of peaceful protestors. In July 2021, police used rubber bullets and tear gas to forcibly disperse protests marking the one year anniversary of Thailand's "Free Youth" pro-democracy movement and to enforce COVID-19 lockdown measures.
(See primary source or citation here)Introduced 20 Aug 2020
Issue(s): Assembly
Type: practice
Arrests of Government Critics for Social Distancing Violations
According to rights activists, Thai authorities are using Covid-19 regulations as a pretext to silence critics of the government. Several pro-democracy activists who took part in anti-government rallies were arrested and charged with violating social distancing measures.
(See primary source or citation here)Introduced 13 May 2020
Issue(s): Assembly, Expression
Type: practice
Unclear Government Use of COVID-19 Tracking App Data
The MorChana COVID-19 tracking app launched in Thailand in April 2020 as a public and private sector collaboration. The government took control of the app in January 2021. On January 7, 2021 the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) suggested that failure to use the app could lead to legal consequences. MorChana uses GPS, Bluetooth and QR Code technology for speedy contact tracing and whlie the government claims data is destroyed after 60 days, some privacy experts claim there is no data to show government compliance. Additionally, users of the Mor Chana app can request data be erased, destroyed or anonymised, "unless retention of the data is necessary for legal purposes".
(See primary source or citation here)Introduced 15 Apr 2020
Issue(s): Surveillance, Privacy
Type: practice
Intimidation of Whistleblowers and Journalists
Whistleblowers and journalists have faced retaliatory lawsuits and intimidation by the Thai authorities after they reported alleged corruption related to hoarding and profiteering of surgical masks and medical supplies. Some medical staff were also threatened with disciplinary action for speaking out about shortages of essential supplies needed to treat Covid-19.
(See primary source or citation here)Introduced 19 Mar 2020
Issue(s): Press Freedom, Expression, Access to Information
Type: practice