BANGKOK, March 1 (TNA) - Thai lawmakers have passed a cyber security bill amid concerns by rights advocates of its threat to people’s privacy.

The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) on Thursday approved the cyber security bill that proposed by a committee vetting the bill.

Given wide spread criticism, Saowani Suwancheep, the committee chairperson, defended the draft that had been changed in response to concerns.

She said in the NLA session that the cybersecurity bill would help ensure national security in cyberspace, covering both public and private sector databases.

Given the threat to national cybersecurity, it was necessary to enact the bill that can tackle these threats effectively, she said.

After the cybersecurity bill was first proposed last year, rights groups have raised concerns over sweeping state powers that will be able to seize computers and servers without a court order.

A National Cybersecurity Agency that will be created under the law will allow state officials to monitor online content and impose censorship, critics say.

The NLA committee has said the bill will not affect ordinary people except in certain circumstances and it includes an appeals process for those to ensure legitimate acts by cybersecurity agencies.

Source: TNA