Thai Govt Intensifies Online Crime Crackdown, Fast-Tracks URL Blocking Against Scammers

The Thai government is seriously stepping up its efforts to combat online crime by using the law as a tool to accelerate the management of all forms of digital threats. The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DE) has recently issued an announcement regarding the submission of petitions to the court for orders to suspend the dissemination or deletion of computer data from computer systems in urgent cases, B.E. 2569, which has taken effect. This allows for the blocking of illegal URLs to be expedited, from several days to just a few hours. This announcement is a crucial mechanism that the government is pushing to protect the public from scammers, illegal gambling websites, mule accounts, investment fraud through DeepFake, e-cigarettes, SMS scams, and fraudulent applications, which are expanding faster than traditional state tools. Data from the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society shows that in the 2024 fiscal year, from October 1, 2023, to July 13, 2024, government agencies, in collaboration with platforms and related service providers, have suspended and blocked 883,012 illegal URLs. Notably, over 600,000 URLs of online gambling websites were blocked by court order. Government spokesperson Rachada Thanadirek stated that the government's proactive crackdown on scammers has garnered international attention, including from major platforms. This is because the government is no longer solving problems by chasing after criminals but is adapting its legal tools to keep pace with the rapidly changing online and digital world. Crucially, the government has established a fast-track system and clear Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), coordinating with both foreign social media platforms and domestic internet service providers to quickly manage clearly illegal content, preventing citizens from becoming victims repeatedly. "Proactive online crime suppression is a reflection of the Anutin government's approach, which does not allow problems affecting people's lives to linger but uses all its resources, including laws, the bureaucracy, and international cooperation, to close off all forms of criminal opportunities and reduce both economic and personal damages for the public," Ms. Rachada said. Source: INN News