... and this

After nearly four months, the Thai government has lifted the ban on Google?s YouTube as the management of the Web site has finally agreed to block all videos that violate the country?s laws or are deemed offensive to the Thai people. The access to YouTube was blocked on April 4, after Google turned down Thailand?s request to delete the ?insulting? 44-second ?offensive? video clip. The video clip in question showed grainy pictures of Thailand?s most revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world?s longest reigning monarch, with a pair of shoes with soles pointed towards the king?s face.

The clip was considered a case of ?lese majeste? or insulting the monarchy, which in Thailand is a serious crime with offenders liable to punishment of up to 15 years of imprisonment. At the time, Google removed the original offensive content from YouTube. However more and more such ?mocking? videos continued to appear on the site, creating a brouhaha of sorts. Finally now, YouTube has agreed on blocking clips breaking Thai laws, including sweeping legislations prohibiting comments deemed as ?offensive? to the monarchy. Meanwhile, video clips banned in Thailand will continue to be available to Internet users in other parts of the world. Additionally, Thai government officials have created a program for blocking all sensitive video content from being accessed within the country. Damn, can you imagine 5 months without YouTube?