The Government of Thailand is threatening to crack down on 1900 chat lines that claim to offer love and friendship but are increasingly being used to provide sexual services.
Officials at the Information and Communication Technology Ministry (ICT) claim the 1900 services are being used to ensnare teenagers and as a covert means of offering sexual services. The ICT ministry has ordered telecom providers to investigate the allegations. Although there is no law to prohibit phone sex in the kingdom, the 1900 chat lines, which connect callers to live operators or link callers together, are coming under increasing scrutiny. TOT Plc, formerly the Telephone Organisation of Thailand, provides private operators with 1900 phone numbers through concession agreements. It could terminate services with companies that violate their concession agreements or the law. ICT will be meeting with officials from TOT later this week to discuss ways to police the industry.
