LEGAL ISSUE RELATED TO COMPUTER HARASSMENT

Abstract

The threats caused by using computers as an offense tool are different from common threats. This is because computer threats can be occurred anytime and anywhere and it causes the damage to the life and property of the threatened. The threatened feel insecure and fear of someone close to them or their families. In addition, this can affect the safety of the use of electronic devices. The computer threat or harassment cannot be able to reach to the offender and it’s
difficult or unable to determine who the offender is because the offender can conceal their status. Thus, computer harassment’s victims are not very careful or cannot protect themselves from this harassment because they do not know where it comes from or who does it and what their intention is. That’s why the computer harassment’s case is different from other general harassments that the victim knows exactly who the offender is. Currently, the offense of the harassment law is only in the Criminal Code, Section 397 states that “Whoever does anything against another to persecute, threaten, or cause shame or annoyance will be fined not more than five thousand baht”. It is a provision that can be applied to general harassment such as stalking, yelling, insulting, making a loud noise, causing trouble or annoying people and sexual harassment. However it’s not applied to the commuter harassment. Thus, it’s very crucial that there should be a computer harassment provision and punishment in order to protect and suppress of the harassment to the individuals
in the future.