Who is iLaw?

iLaw is a civil society organization that utilizes communication, advocacy, and public engagement to realize the goal of democratic principles, freedom of expression, and accountable government. Our works focus on evidenced-based research, building knowledge and online database of public knowledge, and utilizing a variety of online and social media to circulate information and encourage broad public participation. Our activities are designed to enable people to participate according to their experience, ensuring that outcomes result from inclusive engagement.

iLaw Before the 2014 Coup

Founded in 2009 as Internet Dialogue for Law Reform, iLaw initially operated as a project under the Thai Volunteer Service Foundation (TVS). Our early work involved building a website (http://ilaw.or.th) to support public participation in the legislative process. iLaw strived to support the public’s right to petition to introduce a law by using the online media as a focal point that weaves differences. This right, affirmed in the 2007 Constitution, required at least 10,000 signatures as well as a photocopy of an ID Card and House Registration for a public-supported draft bill to be considered in the parliament. However, the public response were lower than anticipated. This was partly due to the rise of social media that enables decentralized communication spaces. Consequently, iLaw shifted its focus to specific advocacy issues, such as campaign to repeal three special security laws (namely, the Martial Law, the Emergency Decree on Government Administration in States of Emergencies, and the Internal Security Act), campaign against movie ban and censorship, and campaign against the draft Public Assembly Act.

iLaw After the 2014 Coup

Following the delacration of Martial Law and the subsequent military coup on 22 May 2014 by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), iLaw expanded the scope of its legal and freedom of expression case database to include documenting the politically motivated detention. This included trials under Martial Law and the rapid increase of lese majeste cases under Section 112 of the Criminal Code, particularly those ordered to be tried under the military court. iLaw and its volunteers visited political detainees and their families, observed and documented trial proceedings, and compiled both quantitative and qualitative data related to the freedom of expression situation under the military government. When the military took over, the NCPO appointed the National Legislative Assembly to legislate, handpicked its own cronies to draft the 2017 Constitution, and utilized special power to manipulate the referendum. It also created various organizations under the claim of reforming the country and wrote the 20 year National Strategy Plan all without participation from the broader society. Therefore, iLaw monitored the legislative process and content of the law fully controlled by the NCPO, summarized and disseminated to the public to highlight the issues of monopolizing the entire process by a single group of people, and aimed to enhance communication effectiveness for future advocacy.

Subsequently, iLaw delved deeper into research, focusing on internet censorship in Thailand and the impact of the Computer Crime Act on human rights and freedom of expression. As a result, iLaw started to receive the recognition in the field of computer-related laws and prompted the development of another website (freedom.ilaw.or.th) in 2011 as an online database legal information and freedom of expression case. The platform aimed to monitor and document legal enforcement and state power that infringe on freedom of expression, including laws like the Computer Crime Act and Article 112 of the Criminal Code. Over its initial five years, the online database gained significant recognition and acceptance among human rights community, due to its detailed coverage and close scrutiny of legal proceedings. In addition, iLaw organized five “Muzzle the Mouth” camps to foster the young right-aware generation, provided two trainings to lawyers on computer forensics, as well as and collaborated on training activities with various civil society networks and educational institutions with the aim of strengthening knowledge and advocacy in the field of freedom of expression.

iLaw Before and After the 2019 General Election

iLaw closely monitored the General Election in 24 March 2019 which represented one of the mechanisms planted by the NCPO to remain in power. iLaw published an election handbook for the people and freely distributed to the public, observed the electoral irregularities, and published a report on the irregularity of the result reporting. Even into the second NCPO regime post 2019 election, iLaw continued to monitor the NCPO’s mechanisms such as the 250-member appointed Senate, the Constitutional Court, and the independent agencies with the similar goal of raising public awareness as we did during the first NCPO regime. When the youth-led movement broke out in 2020, iLaw collaborated with Amnesty International Thailand to develop mobdatathailand.org, a database that documents public assemblies and the use of force to control, harass, and obstruct by the government officials. On 7 August 2020, iLaw launched the “Join Together, Build Together, Draft Together Constitution” campaign aiming to collect signatures to propose an amendment to the 2017 Constitution that could pave the way back to democracy. The result was overwhelming. Within 43 days, 100,732 Thai citizens signed on to the petition. The draft amendment was considered and debated in the parliament, but was rejected in the first reading on 18 November 2020.

After the youth-led movement erupted in 2020, the government responded with harsher laws and unprecedentedly wider prosecution. This made it impossible to document all of the cases. As various media outlets and Thai Lawyer for Human Rights continued to report on the issues, iLaw reduced the volume of its freedom of expression case documentation, focusing instead on pivotal cases that might set precedent for the future. The focus also shifted to producing statistical work and analysis as well as monitoring other human rights issues such as the operation of Pegasus spyware. During the second NCPO regime from 2021-2022, iLaw continued to monitor public demonstrations and proposals to amend the 2017 Constitution. We joined with the Coalition to Repeal Section 112, gathering signatures from the public to propose repealing Section 112 of the Criminal Code. iLaw also consistently organized capacity building training aimed at political activists and young generation which included topics such as Section 112, the power structure of the Thai state, 2017 Constitution, communication and advocacy design, and election monitoring.

iLaw Before and After the 2023 General Election

The 2023 General Election and the work of Election Commission aroused suspicion. iLaw fulfilled the areas where the governemnt officials are lacking, focusing on raising awareness on electoral rules. We created the 2023 election handbook for the public and encouraged them to volunteer as election observers whose jobs were to take photos of ballot counting boards, and report election results via the website Vote62.com. After the election, iLaw monitored the official announcement of the results and the Prime Minister vote. Following the 2023 General Election saw an unprecedented rise of public enthusiasm to engage in activities that support democratic cause. Consequently, iLaw adapts to not only study and provide information but also design activities and open up public space for public participation. For instance, the #Conforall campaign, a civil petition calling for a referendum for a new constituion, in August 2023 gathered 211,904 signatures within 3 days. This success led to our campaigns in 2024 which iLaw called for signatures for a draft amnesty bill for the people, advocated for a fair referndum, and encouraged the public to apply and participate in the selection process of the new Senate.

iLaw’s Strategic Approach

iLaw’s activities evolve and adapt each year depending on the political climate, human rights violations, and social trends that create opportunities for meaningful advocacy. Our approaches are:

1. Systematically monitor, research, and document data online to build a database of issues related to legislative processes, justice, and freedom of expression in Thai society.
2. Foster public awareness and create spaces to discuss new legislations and the drafting of a people’s constitution, particularly on issues that may impact civil and political rights, by utlizing social media platforms.
3. Develop and organize activities to enable public participation in lawmaking process, drafting the people’s constitution, ending political prosecutions, and advancing towards a democratic society.
4. Conduct training and spread knowledge on civil and political rights for young people to enhance their political awareness and strengthen their engagement in democracy.

Our Supporters

Between 2009 and 2014, iLaw received funding from Open Society Foundation and Heinrich Böll Foundation, as well as once from Google.
From 2014 to 2024, iLaw has continued to received primary operational fundings from the following organiztions:

1. Open Society Foundation (OSF)
2. National Endowment for Democracy (NED)
3. Fund for Global Human Rights (FGHR)
4. American Jewish World Service (AJWS)

iLaw also received additional support depending on activites’ each year from Heinrich Böll Stiftung Southeast Asia.

In 2021, iLaw received additional support from the Embassy of Switzerland for the public assembly monitoring in 2022. Forum Asia also helped funded the public assembly monitoring. Access Now provided support for the investigation on the operation of Pegasus Spyware in Thailad which they continued to support in 2024. Moreover, iLaw also received support from Office of High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR) for documentation on rights violation, and received support once from Meta Globalgiving.

Our Team

iLaw’s Committee

1. Kannikar Kijtiwatchakul (FTA Watch Network)
2. Janjira Janpeaw (Human Rights Lawyers Association)
3. Penwadee Saengchan (Duang Prateep Foundation)
4. Orapin Yingyongpathana (Journalist)

iLaw’s Adviser

1. Jon Ungphakorn (iLaw’s founder)

iLaw’s Team

1. Yingcheep Atchanont (Executive Director) [email protected]
2. Anon Chawalawan (Project Manager) [email protected].th
3. Chansa Supanmuang (Office Manager) [email protected]
4. Waranyuta Yan-in (Activity Coordinator) [email protected]

Other

Information and content by iLaw can be found on the main website, while other information on  specific campaign can be found here:

iLaw’s main website ilaw.or.th
Database on laws and cases related to freedom of expression freedom.ilaw.or.th/
Database on freedom assembly www.mobdatathailand.org
Election observation Vote62.com