Skip to main content

Advertisement

Advertisement

Thai army seeks cyber warriors to combat hackers

BANGKOK — The Thai army has said it plans to recruit civilians to work as “cyber warriors” to counter hackers as the government rolls out tougher controls on online content.

BANGKOK — The Thai army has said it plans to recruit civilians to work as “cyber warriors” to counter hackers as the government rolls out tougher controls on online content.

Cyber experts will be employed to help combat cyber attacks as well as help the army enhance its computer system technology due to a shortage of military officers who specialise in the field, army commander-in-chief Chalermchai Sittisat said this week.

General Chalermchai said the recruitment would create a unit of state-run “cyber warriors” similar to those in other countries.

The recruitment drive comes after a wave of cyber attacks targeted several government websites last month.

A group called the Civilians Against Single Gateway claimed responsibility for the attacks. The group said it was protesting against the amended Computer Crime Act approved last month by the National Legislative Assembly. The changes included creating a new five-person committee empowered to ask a court to delete online content deemed offensive to the country’s morals. Those found guilty of publishing false information online, that jeopardises national security or public safety, or causes panic, can be jailed for up to five years.

Local and foreign activists called the amendments a major blow to human rights and free speech.

Gen Chalermchai admitted it was difficult tracking down hackers as they had extensive networks both in Thailand and abroad. “We don’t have enough personnel with expertise in cyber security. Therefore, we need to recruit civilians for our centre, who can manage it properly and earn a reasonable salary,” he said.

The army chief brushed aside concerns that civilians could be recruited as spies or leak state information. Applicants will undergo strict background checks before they are hired, he said.

However, he said state computer systems were only affected briefly by the attacks, adding that no damage was done to important databases.

Several suspects have been arrested by the military in connection with the aforementioned cyber attacks. However, the precise number of suspects or their whereabouts has yet to be confirmed.

Gen Chalermchai said the government was also trying to inform the public about the merits of the amended law. BANGKOK POST

Read more of the latest in

Advertisement

Advertisement

Stay in the know. Anytime. Anywhere.

Subscribe to get daily news updates, insights and must reads delivered straight to your inbox.

By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis.