Thailand strengthens crackdown on cybercrime

Deputy Prime Minister and Digital Economy and Society Minister Prasert Chantararuangthong (Photo: nationthailand.com)

Bangkok –Thailand plans to issue a new decree next month which requires banks, phone operators, and platforms to share liability for online scams.

Deputy Prime Minister and Digital Economy and Society Minister Prasert Chantararuangthong said on March 27 that the final draft of the executive decree on measures for the prevention and suppression of technological crimes would be completed by the end of this month and published in the Royal Gazette, replacing the current decree issued in 2023.

He said that mobile phone operators, banks, and platform operators had been summoned by the DES Ministry to be briefed on the measures they would be required to comply with once the new decree takes effect.

Among the measures, he said, banks would be required to conduct more thorough checks before allowing new bank accounts to be opened.

He stated that banks would have to verify whether applicants were blacklisted as mule account holders or members of online scam gangs.

If banks allow blacklisted inpiduals to open accounts, they would be required to take responsibility for any damage caused by such accounts, Prasert said.

Besides, he revealed that the new law will require cases to be settled by a single court, rather than three courts as in past practice.