The ministry has reported the site to the Information and Communications Technology Ministry and the police.

The site is called Camfrog and it has been available in Thailand for three years.

A network of Internet cafe operators brought the site to the attention of the Culture Watch Centre.

Some users is this country are allegedly posting and viewing lewd material on the site.

Ministry permanent secretary Weera Rojphojjanarat said yesterday it would seek police and ICT Ministry help to have the site blocked. It wants an investigation into possible offences.

The showing of a lewd act in public carries a maximum punishment of three years in jail and/or a Bt3,000 fine, he said.

Weera said the site had subscribed for Internet service with AsiaNet Thailand, which holds an ICT Ministry concession.

Meanwhile, director of White Internet for Thai Youths and Thai Webmasters Association chief Poramet Minsiri revealed that Thai users were the site's third most frequent visitors following the United States and China.

While many used the site in constructive ways, some broadcast lewd acts.

These include young people and students undressing for Web cameras. They are unaware the recordings can be sold and distributed, he said.

Poramet will raise the matter at a Wednesday meeting of a committee drafting computer-related crime legislation.