Tuesday, December 29, 2009

[Thai] Panel set up to prevent info leaks

28/12/2009
Bangkok Post

A special panel has been set up to look into legal measures to prevent personal and state information being leaked to other countries, Prime Minister's Office Minister Sathit Wongnongtoey said on Monday.

Mr Sathit was speaking after briefing senior officials to dhe Official Information Act (1997).

The minister said the Official Information Committee had expressed concern over the transfer of personal and official information such as mobile phone numbers, Internet access and health records at hospitals to foreign shareholders.

Since there is now no law to regulate information transfers, the Official Information Committee has set up a subcommittee to explore legal measures to prevent certain information from being transferred abroad.

Mr Sathit said he is particularly concerned that nformation on health and medicines prescribed for personal health conditions could be exploited by foreign pharmaceutical companies and this could put Thais at a disadvantage.

He said the recent revelation of a confidential document from the Foreign Ministry was illegal. The disclosure of information contained in it to other countries could affect national security.

Mr 's comments follow the recent revelation of a confidential Foreign Ministry paper on relations with Cambodia and about former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra by Puea Thai MP and United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) leader Jatuporn Promphan.

All government agencies should strictly comply with regulations for handling of classified documents, Mr Sathit said.

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