You are using an outdated browser and your browsing experience will not be optimal. Please update to the latest version of Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. Install Microsoft Edge

September 24, 2025

Thailand Issues AI Risk Management Guidelines for Financial Service Providers

On September 12, 2025, the Bank of Thailand (BOT) officially released its AI Risk Management Guidelines for Financial Service Providers, building upon the draft guidelines issued in June 2025. The guidelines reflect a balanced approach, encouraging innovation while safeguarding financial stability and consumer protection.

The guidelines are targeted at all financial service providers, including financial institutions and special financial institutions under the Financial Institution Business Act, as well as payment providers under the Payment Systems Act.

The guidelines apply to both AI systems developed in-house and those developed by third parties that are adopted for use by financial service providers.

AI Risk Management Guidelines

The two main pillars in managing AI risk are (1) governance of AI system implementation and (2) AI system development and security controls, consisting of the following key elements:

1. Governance

  • Stakeholder roles and responsibilities. Boards and senior management assume accountability for decisions and operations involving AI systems, and are responsible for defining roles and responsibilities for AI oversight. This includes establishing an AI system usage policy, designating personnel responsible for AI risk management, and building awareness of AI-related risk within the organization. Organizations are expected to foster internal capabilities to use AI securely and avoid overreliance that could compromise business continuity or customer service.
  • AI system usage policy. Policies governing AI usage should align with organizational goals, regulatory obligations, and recognized responsible AI frameworks—such as the FEAT principles (fairness, ethics, accountability, and transparency). These policies should be reviewed regularly to respond to technological advancements and evolving risk profiles.
  • Risk management throughout the AI lifecycle. Risk management should encompass the entire AI lifecycle, from establishing risk appetite to implementing continuous risk assessment and control measures tailored to specific use cases. Financial service providers should assess risks and impacts of AI usage on operations and customer services. Human oversight must be embedded in decision-making processes, with the degree of oversight calibrated to the level of risk and impact, especially when AI systems are used in strategic functions or customer interactions (e.g., loan approval or account opening). In customer interactions with AI systems, customers should be notified and have options to contact personnel of financial service providers.
  1. Development and security controls
  • Data risk. Financial service providers should have measures to assess and ensure the quality, accuracy, currentness, volume, and diversity of data used in AI model training. They should also implement data leakage prevention measures.
  • Model development risk. Financial service providers should have (1) clear evaluation metrics for assessing model accuracy and reliability through ongoing testing and monitoring, both before and after deployment, and (2) measures to ensure the explainability of AI outcomes. For generative AI applications, there should be specific measures to reduce AI hallucination risks by adopting techniques such as retrieval-augmented generation and prompt engineering. Financial service providers should also ensure explainability of AI outputs through documentation detailing model inputs, outputs, and parameters.
  • Cybersecurity risk. Financial service providers should have measures to prevent and detect emerging cyber threats targeting AI systems, based on established standards such as the OWASP Machine Learning Security Top 10.

In addition, the BOT emphasizes the importance of financial service providers strictly complying with applicable laws when adopting AI, including personal data protection laws and intellectual property laws.

RELATED INSIGHTS​ 

February 24, 2025
On January 31, 2025, the Bank of Thailand (BOT) announced a new Notification re: Responsible Lending, replacing a similar notification from 2023. This new notification provides updated measures to assist debtors in different circumstances and clear implementation guidelines for lenders, with the aim of resolving household debt issues. Scope The service providers covered by the notification include banks and nonbanks (e.g., credit card companies, asset management companies, licensed personal loan providers, and nano finance operators) that conduct lending business. New Requirements The notification’s core focus remains loan management throughout the lifecycle of a loan—from credit product development to legal proceedings and debt transfers to other creditors—but with further clarification and detail compared to the 2023 notification. The key revisions in the new notification are summarized below. Advertising standards: The notification tightens requirements in some areas and relaxes them in others. Stricter requirements: It is now clearly stipulated that the BOT oversees taglines that may encourage excessive borrowing. More examples of noncompliant statements are also added (e.g., “Elevate your lifestyle now, pay later”; “Get approved, even with credit challenges”). In addition, advertising material that contains multiple credit products should provide clear minimum and maximum interest rates, especially when there are significant differences in the interest rates of each product. Relaxed requirements: The required information for some marketing activities is now reduced. For example, in marketing events with staff promoting loan products and offering free giveaways, service providers have the discretion to provide effective interest rate information in the manner they deem appropriate, and the advertisement material can display only the mandatory warning statements without providing interest rate details. Encouraging customer financial discipline: The notification requires service providers to implement more elaborate and extensive tools to influence customer behavior (termed “nudging” by the BOT) at every stage of the lending cycle. This
February 20, 2025
Vietnam’s Decree No. 147/2024/ND-CP on the management, provision, and use of internet services and online information (Decree 147) was issued on November 9, 2024, and came into effect on December 25, 2024. Decree 147 represents a more stringently regulated digital landscape in Vietnam, creating challenges not only for offshore service providers offering cross-border services but also for onshore providers. As these new regulations impose stricter requirements, particularly in areas like content control, user authentication, data storage, and service license/notification, companies will need to adapt quickly to maintain compliance and minimize legal risks. The following are some of the key topics covered by Decree 147. [Note: Shortly after the issuance of Decree 147, Vietnam began a government restructuring process, with the aim of streamlining the government by consolidating and eliminating various ministries and agencies. Thus, the decree’s references to authorities such as the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information (ABEI) and the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) are subject to change.] 1. Cross-Border Information Provision Cross-border information provision is defined broadly as the provision by overseas organizations and individuals of information and online information content services for service users in Vietnam to access or use. This wide-ranging definition encompasses various types of cross-border services, including social network services, online game services, and app store services. However, cross-border provision of online game services remains prohibited under Decree 147 (see further details below). Offshore providers of services on a cross-border basis who lease data storage in Vietnam or meet a threshold of 100,000 or more total visits per month from Vietnam for six consecutive months (“regulated cross-border providers”) must adhere to stricter requirements. Specifically, they are required to, among other requirements: Notify the relevant authority of their contact information, including the location of the main server providing the service, within 60
February 17, 2025
Thailand’s draft Emergency Decree on Technology Crimes Suppression, which we covered in a client alert in January 2025 primarily addressed to telecom operators and financial institutions, is expected to have significant implications for a wide range of business operators.  The draft emergency decree has already been approved by the cabinet but may undergo further developments as it continues in the legislative process. In this article, we will highlight the material impacts of the draft emergency decree on overseas and local fintech operators. Expanded Definition of “Technology Crimes” The definition of “technology crimes” now includes the following acts of forgery or alteration: Forging or altering the identity of individuals and biometric characteristics by utilizing computer or communication systems or other electronic means to commit offenses. Forging or altering symbols, trademarks, or seals of groups (e.g., foundations, community enterprises) or juristic persons, including acts by juristic persons using individuals or juristic persons as nominal directors or shareholders, regardless of whether such individuals or legal juristic persons reside in Thailand. Forging or altering digital or online platforms, regardless of the platform’s location or legal status. Individuals who conspire, utilize, assist, or support the commission of these offenses will face the same penalties as the principal offender. Business Operator Definition The scope of “business operators” is now expanded to cover various fintech and digital asset operators beyond those under the Payment Systems Act (PSA). The draft emergency decree now includes the following operators, whether they are legally authorized or not: Business operators under the PSA and business operators who operate “as if” they are payment system operators Business operators under the Royal Decree on Digital Asset Businesses or business operators who operate “as if” they are digital asset business operators. Foreign exchange business operators. Disclosure and Exchange of Information Business operators must disclose
February 7, 2025
Vietnam’s political system is currently undergoing a significant reorganization to streamline government operations and improve efficiency. In this regard, Plan 141/KH-BCDTKNQ18, issued on December 6, 2024, provided guidelines on the restructuring of existing ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and government-affiliated agencies. Accordingly, the number of ministries is being reduced from 18 to 14 through mergers and consolidations and the establishment of a new Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs. The number of ministerial-level agencies is being reduced to three, and government-affiliated agencies to five. Similar streamlining is happening at provincial levels. The newly consolidated state agencies will assume all functions, rights, and responsibilities of the merged entities, and will continue handling all ongoing matters previously handled by the former agencies. Some examples of these changes include the following: The Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) will oversee telecommunications, IT applications, cybersecurity, e-transactions, and national digital transformation, which had previously been managed by the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC). MOST will also be responsible for issuing licenses related to these areas, such as licenses for G1 online game services and telecommunication services. The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism will assume the responsibility of press management, previously under the MIC. The Ministry of Finance will assume state management functions related to investment, previously handled by the Ministry of Planning and Investment. Provincial Departments of Finance will issue Investment Registration Certificates and Enterprise Registration Certificates, a responsibility previously held by the Departments of Planning and Investment. The Ministry of Home Affairs will oversee labor and employment matters. Provincial Departments of Home Affairs will be authorized to issue work permits and will be the designated authorities for companies to register their internal labor regulations. Advantages for Businesses The restructuring aims to simplify regulations and expedite licensing processes. By reducing the number of agencies