Thai police are seeking software that would help it monitor chat applications and social media private messages, a police source told Thai Enquirer on Tuesday.
The Royal Thai Police have reached out to several companies selling software similar to the Pegasus software developed by an Israeli defense company.
Police have approached vendors looking for technology that could be used to monitor messages sent between popular chat applications like LINE, WhatsApp, and Telegram.
Police will use the application to monitor and prevent political protest as well as go after members of organized crime and drug smugglers, the source told Thai Enquirer on the condition of anonymity.
The news will worry rights groups and dissidents especially after a “watchlist” of protest leaders and opposition politicians was revealed on Monday. (Read more here)
Thai police have been in the crosshairs of pro-democracy demonstrators after clashes between protesters and the police left several injured.
The police have been accused by the student-led demonstrators of using heavy handed tactics against unarmed protesters including the use of tear gas, rubber bullets, and water cannons.
Police have also been instrumental in carrying out arrests of protest leaders including several high-profile arrests that took place in the middle of the night.
Calls to police spokesman Krissana Pattanacharoen were not immediately returned. – Thai Enquirer
