Bangkok: Thailand's military government has banned its citizens contacting or sharing social media posts from three outspoken critics living outside of the country.

Under the unprecedented move, online interaction with the critics has been deemed to be a violation of the country's Computer/Cyber Crimes Act, which carries a prison sentence of up to 15 years on each count.

In a statement Thailand's Ministry of Digital Economy and Society named Pavin Chachavalpongpun, an associate professor at the Centre for Southeast Asian Studies at Kyoto University, Somsak Jeamteerasakul, who is living in exile in France and Scottish journalist and author Andrew MacGregor Marshall.

All three are known for frequent online commentary about Thailand.