Crime Thai Tourist Police use AI to Track Down Over 170 Suspects and Screen High-Risk Individuals

[webfact]

Picture courtesy of Matichon

 

In a major security upgrade, Thailand's Tourist Police have successfully utilised artificial intelligence (AI) technology to apprehend over 170 wanted individuals and screen high-risk groups.

 

This initiative aligns with governmental efforts to bolster the tourism industry through enhanced safety measures.

 

On 15th May, Lieutenant General Saksira Phuakarm, Commander of the Tourist Police, detailed the operation under Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s policy to promote tourism and Minister of Tourism and Sports, Sarawong Thienthong’s focus on security within the sector.

 

National Police Chief, General Kittirath Phanphet, announced the establishment of the Tourist Safety Operation Center (TSOC) to ensure tourist safety. The collaboration led to a 12.58% decrease in criminal cases involving foreign tourists from January to April 2024, compared to the same period in 2023.

 

The Tourist Police have integrated Social Listening technology to quickly respond to incidents reported on social media and dispel false information affecting the tourism image.

 

The application of AI further strengthens crime prevention and tourist protection efforts, with CCTV cameras employing AI for real-time monitoring and facial recognition against a central database of warrants. Since mid-July 2024, these measures have resulted in over 170 arrests.

 

In future plans, 10 operational vehicles equipped with AI cameras and SOS applications will be deployed at key tourist sites, offering immediate assistance and enhancing safety.

 

These vehicles will also serve as information points and reporting centres, aligning with the ongoing commitment to safe and sustainable tourism, under the motto "Your First Friend".

 

Additionally, from 15th to 22nd May, the Tourist Police will intensify crackdowns on unauthorised guides, low-quality tours, scams, and transnational crimes as part of the nationwide crime prevention strategy.

 

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Matichon 2025-05-15

 

 

[Joe32]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

In future plans, 10 operational vehicles equipped with AI cameras and SOS applications will be deployed at key tourist sites, offering immediate assistance and enhancing safety.

 

Does this make it look more or less safe though? If I were a tourist, I'd rather think, why are the police here? What happened? Is it so unsafe here? Not sure if it would do the trick....

 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

The Tourist Police have integrated Social Listening technology to quickly respond to incidents reported on social media and dispel false information affecting the tourism image.

 

Will this comment now be deleted?

[hotchilli]

Maybe they could tailor AI to cut down on all the street brawls and make the actual experience the same as the brochure declares.

[wombat]

21 hours ago, webfact said:

facial recognition

Hullo China....social credit coming next.

[factual monk]

Good idea... because when own intelligence is not working... use Artificial one... 

[niebla]

Why not take the CCTV data stored from cameras at every intersection and use AI to compile a list of dangerous drivers? It would seem that for every dangerous driver taken off the road the accident rate and death rate would improve immediately. People would start driving better knowing they were being watched. 

[thesetat]

21 hours ago, webfact said:

The Tourist Police have integrated Social Listening technology to quickly respond to incidents reported on social media and dispel false information affecting the tourism image.

In other words, the AI will monitor social media, find anything that speaks negative about Thailand and Thai tourism, and delete it or, issue statements about it being false. I am curious how the AI knows a negative story is false or have they just programmed it to rebuke and justify any negative comment made? 

[MalcolmB]

Smart people these Thais.

With internet speeds amongst the best in the world it allows this sort of thing to be used effectively.

I wish our UK police were as good.

[Briggsy]

All data shared with China, who provided the technology?

[wensiensheng]

“The Tourist Police have integrated Social Listening technology to quickly respond to incidents reported on social media and dispel false information affecting the tourism image.”

 

Why do I worry that they will spend more time latching onto stories so as to suppress them and avoid tarnishing Thailands reputation, rather than actually putting away bad guys

[wensiensheng]

42 minutes ago, niebla said:

Why not take the CCTV data stored from cameras at every intersection and use AI to compile a list of dangerous drivers? It would seem that for every dangerous driver taken off the road the accident rate and death rate would improve immediately. People would start driving better knowing they were being watched. 

Because a lot of the cameras don’t work do to poor to no maintenance?

[brfsa2]

38 minutes ago, niebla said:

Why not take the CCTV data stored from cameras at every intersection and use AI to compile a list of dangerous drivers? It would seem that for every dangerous driver taken off the road the accident rate and death rate would improve immediately. People would start driving better knowing they were being watched. 

 

Possible yes, and a good idea.

but viable in Thai police? no way, it would be very expensive to do it, every CCTV in Bangkok video streaming to AI would cost $1million an hour of processing and training.

 

DeepSeek AI from china is a lot cheaper, still exopensive for a police force to take on.

 

I've tried with OpenAI the feeds from my Home Assistant cameras and it is wasn't cheap, I had to stop that.

the guide is actually really easy: https://cookbook.openai.com/examples/gpt_with_vision_for_video_understanding

I took small video clips when movement was detected and create a summary of what happened, then sent that as a notification.

 

[Nickcage49]

Big Brother isn't just watching, he's looking at you right now.

[thenewgoo]

Hey Captain - I ran "Where are the naughty foreigners" through that ChatGPT thingy. I think I may have found them!

Great work Constable, let's roll.

found in popular tourist destinations like Bangkok, Pattaya, and Phuket.

• Bangkok: Areas like Nana Plaza, Soi Cowboy, and Patpong are known for their nightlife and adult entertainment scenes.
• Pattaya: Walking Street is famous for its vibrant nightlife, bars, and adult entertainment establishments.
• Phuket: Patong Beach’s Bangla Road is a lively area with many bars, clubs, and entertainment venues.

 

[Thingamabob]

1 hour ago, MalcolmB said:

Smart people these Thais.

With internet speeds amongst the best in the world it allows this sort of thing to be used effectively.

I wish our UK police were as good.

The UK police force, as it used to be called, has deteriorated into a police 'service' which appears unable to prevent or solve crimes. It now, sadly for all Brits, focuses on trawling social media in order to identify comments critical of the Labour government, and to punish those who post such comments. 

[Aussie999]

So, just where is this AI, I'd like to know how different it is to previous technology...

As for quickly responding to incidents reported on social media, what the hell does that even mean. They fail to take action when physically there, they can't find prostitution or ping pong shows in Soi Bangla, they fail to take action when report to the police at the police boxes/station.

[Aussie999]

1 hour ago, niebla said:

Why not take the CCTV data stored from cameras at every intersection and use AI to compile a list of dangerous drivers? It would seem that for every dangerous driver taken off the road the accident rate and death rate would improve immediately. People would start driving better knowing they were being watched. 

As soon as they train it to filter out Thais, and only report foreigners then they will.

[Guderian]

23 hours ago, webfact said:

detailed the operation under Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s policy to promote tourism

 

I'm pretty sure that, before they book a holiday, most people will check the brochures to reassure themselves that they'll be tracked by AI facial recognition cameras and followed by AI police cars every step of their trip. <rolleyes>

[carlyai]

2 hours ago, thesetat said:

In other words, the AI will monitor social media, find anything that speaks negative about Thailand and Thai tourism, and delete it or, issue statements about it being false. I am curious how the AI knows a negative story is false or have they just programmed it to rebuke and justify any negative comment made? 

'Vee have vaze you know.'

[Xonax]

How many police officers could be replaced by Artificial Intelligence? Will AI in the future be able to patrol the streets and catch traffic-offenders?

[Cabradelmar]

23 hours ago, webfact said:

integrated Social Listening technology to quickly respond to incidents reported on social media and dispel false information affecting the tourism image

 

Hello, are you listening? Go to Koh Pha Ngan and arrest all the Russians working on the island. End of message 😂 

 

Ps., it appears many Israeli tourist love drugs... Case the usual suspects for more leads 😜 

[Jim Blue]

1 hour ago, Nickcage49 said:

Big Brother isn't just watching, he's looking at you right now.

Thanks , just told the wife to close the curtains !

[Yagoda]

Their country, their rules. Clean up the Africans on Sukhumvit and the Russians everywhere else.

[Dogmatix]

A lot of individuals at high risk of committing crimes are to be found in the cabinet office and the parliament.

[riverhigh]

"These vehicles will also serve as information points and reporting centres, aligning with the ongoing commitment to safe and sustainable tourism, under the motto "Your First Friend"."

 

I vehemently argue against the above statement.  If I am pedo or a narcissistic thug on holiday, how can these AI equiped cameras be considered "Your First Friend". Just asking for a friend.

[Wrwest]

Certainly a double edged sword. AI has great positive potential as is currently being scene but it does also pose a great threat. So much turns on the individuals and the motivationbehind the use. Right now there are countries where we are witnessing the "policing" of the general populace to target "anti-social" persons or statements such as questioning/attacking official government policy ...

[Iron Tongue]

3 hours ago, Aussie999 said:

So, just where is this AI, I'd like to know how different it is to previous technology...

 

 

My thoughts exactly.

It looks like they've decided to slap "AI" in front of everything to sound like they're up to date, but behind the curtains, it's just the same rodents running on their hamster wheels.

[Yagoda]

4 hours ago, Dogmatix said:

A lot of individuals at high risk of committing crimes are to be found in the cabinet office and the parliament.

Name one, libeler.

[Shocked farang]

8 hours ago, wombat said:

Hullo China....social credit coming next.

Just wonder what the social credit of all these ladyboys in Pattaya would be...