Thailand warns women against posting 'underboob' selfies

The ministry is frequently criticized for being overzealous in its censorship of some Western cultural practices

Thailand's ministry is frequently criticized for being overzealous in its censorship of some Western cultural practices (Getty Images)

Thailand's military government has warned women against posting "selfie" photos of the lower half of their breasts.

The social media trend of posting pictures of cleavage has reportedly gone viral, but the government says it could violate the country’s computer crime laws.

Thailand’s 2007 Computer Crimes Act bans any material said to cause "damage to the country’s security or cause public panic" or "obscene computer data which is accessible to the public".

The ministry is frequently criticised for being overzealous in its censorship of films, television, music, and some Western cultural practices in an attempt to preserve traditional values of a country that is also infamous for its raunchy night life.

"When people take these 'underboob selfies' no one can see their faces," ministry spokesman Anandha Chouchoti said.

"So it's like, we don't know who these belong to, and it encourages others to do the same."

The culture ministry said offenders faced up to five years in jail, but did not say how they would identify the culprits.

Additional reporting by Reuters