Thai AI Passport Project Faces Invalidation Risk Over Transparency Concerns

Concerns are mounting over Thailand's AI Passport (TH AI Passport) project, as it has emerged that a crucial transparency mechanism, the "Integrity Pact," was not implemented despite being a mandatory requirement in the Terms of Reference (TOR). Dr. Kanadi Leoapairoj, deputy leader of the Democrat Party, highlighted that the TOR drafted and overseen by the National Digital Economy and Society Commission (NESDC) clearly stipulated in clause 3.16 that bidders for projects exceeding one billion baht must sign an Integrity Pact. However, she revealed that the project has not participated in such an agreement, as confirmed by the Comptroller General's Department. Dr. Kanadi questioned why the NESDC, which drafted and approved its own TOR, failed to adhere to its own established criteria. "Is the agency violating the rules it set itself?" she asked, warning that this procedural flaw could lead to challenges from other bidders, potentially rendering the entire TH AI Passport project null and void. The Integrity Pact is intended not just as a formality but as a vital mechanism to ensure transparency in billion-baht projects, allowing for external or independent observers to participate in scrutiny from the TOR drafting stage through to delivery. She further pointed out that the TOR was completed before entering the Comptroller General's Department's process, demanding clear intentions and explanations from the NESDC and the procurement committee to the public regarding this oversight. This issue underscores the critical importance of transparency and accountability in Thailand's public procurement processes. If government-led digital initiatives falter on fundamental transparency principles, public trust will be significantly undermined.