The Google-owned video-sharing website agreed that it would block any clips found to be offensive or illegal by the Thai government. Needless to say, the ban will only be applied to requests made from IP addresses inside of Thailand.

Subsequently, the new deal doesn’t affect the rest of YouTube users (or Thai users that have at least the minimum knowledge about proxies)

The dispute between YouTube and the Thai authorities started back in spring, when the video sharing site featured a video showing the image of King Bhumibol Adulyadej with footprints over his head. Such things are considered very offensive in Thai culture.

As it followed, YouTube was blocked in Thailand on April 4.

The monarchy is the subject of very strict laws in Thailand and anyone accused of having insulted the king (or other members of royalty, past king included) faces a sentence of up to 15 years of prison.

Fortunately for those breaking the law, the current Thai king is not too fond of such laws and has used his prerogatives to make such sentences forgotten.

It would be interesting to know if the recent deal does include YouTube’s obligation to provide Thai authorities with information about users uploading future defamatory videos. If such videos will be added from someone in Thailand, will the website help local authorities enforce the law, just the way Yahoo decided to work with the Chinese government? Let’s hope not.