Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has said Facebook chief executive officer and co-founder Mark Zuckerberg will meet him during a visit to Thailand on Oct 30.
"Mark Zuckerberg will come to Thailand on a business trip. He asked to meet me to discuss cooperation in preventing and solving the problems of transnational crimes, and what kind of measures and plans should be in place," he said.
"Please do not link this meeting to other issues. It is just an exchange of opinions. It's better than no communication at all," he told the media yesterday.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak told Prachachat newspaper that Mr Zuckerberg would also discuss the expansion of Facebook in Asean.
He said it was a good opportunity for Thailand after major online business operators from many countries including the US and China saw opportunities in the region. Many have opened regional offices in Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam. At the same time, Thailand remains one of the countries of key interest to those businesses, he was quoted as saying.
It is expected the prime minister will ask the Facebook CEO about blocking the remaining posts and videos deemed to be in violation of the Criminal Code's Section 112, known as the lese majeste act.
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission had earlier attempted to regulate over-the-top content providers by taxing those operators, including Facebook. But it stepped back after a coalition of US businesses put pressure on the government ahead of Gen Prayut's recent White House visit.