Image courtesy: Sanook

 

In a decisive move, Thailand's Cabinet has approved amendments aimed at fortifying the country's legal framework against cybercrimes and call centres. This development promises sweeping changes, potentially transforming how such crimes are tackled and punished.

 

Proposed by the Digital Economy and Society Ministry, these amendments come in response to the alarming loss of approximately 60 to 70 million Thai Baht daily to cybercriminal activities.

 

The existing decree was found lacking in several respects, particularly regarding the authority to tackle mule accounts—accounts which are often instrumental in laundering illicit funds.

 

The proposed amendments to the Royal Decree on Measures for Protection and Suppression of Technology Crimes B.E. 2566 (2023) will introduce several key changes.

 

Firstly, they will enhance the authority to act against peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platforms involved in any wrongdoing. Secondly, telecommunications service providers will be obliged to suspend the SIM cards of those implicated in offences.

Moreover, banks will face new obligations, required to promptly provide mule account details to the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) to expedite investigations and facilitate the swift recovery of funds for victims.

 

Non-compliant financial institutions, alongside mobile networks, will encounter increased penalties should they refuse to disclose information about accounts held by perpetrators.

 

Further steps include heightened penalties for unauthorised disclosure of personal information. These changes reflect a broader push to hold financial institutions, mobile network operators, and social media platforms more accountable for the damages resulting from cybercrimes.

 

The amendment draft will now journey to the Office of the Council of State for scrutiny. Following this, it will return to the Cabinet for final approval, after which it will be enacted via publication in the Royal Gazette and come into force immediately.

 

The Council of State is expected to review the draft within 30 days, with February marked as the possible period for its official announcement.

 

This legislative stride not only exhibits the government's resolve to curb cybercrimes but also underscores an evolving recognition of technological crime threats in Thailand's digital landscape.

 

By intensifying legal repercussions and streamlining cooperation between banks, telecoms, and regulatory bodies, these measures aim to significantly deter cybercriminal activity, protecting citizens and financial entities alike, reported Thai Newsroom.

 

-- 2025-01-28

 

 

13 hours ago, webfact said:

In a decisive move, Thailand's Cabinet has approved amendments aimed at fortifying the country's legal framework against cybercrimes and call centres. This development promises sweeping changes, potentially transforming how such crimes are tackled and punished.

I feel safer already