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

January 9, 2026

Thailand’s Tech Industry Outlook for 2026

Subscribe to Updates

Thailand continues to advance its legal and regulatory framework for the technology sector, with several key laws undergoing review and proposed amendments. These developments reflect Thailand’s broader efforts to ensure that its regulatory landscape keeps pace with rapid technological change and aligns more closely with international standards and best practices.

The following are key legal developments and proposed legislative reforms in 2026 that are expected to impact businesses operating in the technology sector and the broader Thai business landscape.

Data Privacy and Cybersecurity

Personal Data Protection Act B.E. 2562 (2019)

Following the full enforcement of Thailand’s Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) in June 2022, businesses and practitioners have identified practical implementation challenges and interpretative issues. These challenges were reflected in an effectiveness assessment conducted by the Personal Data Protection Committee (PDPC) in late 2024. The PDPC published a set of principles for public consultation to identify issues and directions for potential amendments to the PDPA.

  • Key issues: Emerging issues include clarifying the definitions of “data controller,” “data processor,” and “criminal record”; revisiting the scope of sensitive personal data to better reflect Thailand’s context; proposing amendments to the hierarchy of legal bases to avoid misconceptions of consent as the default legal basis; and clarifying the required level of expressiveness for explicit consent, as well as rules for collecting personal data from other sources.
  • Current status: The first round of public consultation has concluded.
  • Next steps: The proposed amendments are proceeding to a revised draft following the consultation outcomes.

Cybersecurity Act B.E. 2562 (2019)

Thailand is moving forward with proposed amendments to enhance the effectiveness of its national cybersecurity framework, as evolving digital technologies bring new risks such as misinformation, system intrusions, and attacks on critical infrastructure, making cybersecurity a national priority.

  • Key issues: The amendments aim to clarify and strengthen the roles and duties of private entities, particularly critical information infrastructure (CII) operators, in preventing, mitigating, and responding to cyber threats. Key highlights include broadening the meaning of “cyber threat” from a narrow technical focus to a holistic assessment of potential national and public impacts; introducing defined terms such as “cyber threat incident,” “computer data,” and “computer system”; strengthening risk management and incident response by CII operators; and expanding the scope of CII organizations to include public and private entities related to industrial work.
  • Current status: The third round of public consultation has concluded.
  • Next steps: The draft amendments are being revised following the consultation outcomes.

Child Online Safety

Penal Code Amendments

Recent Penal Code amendments, effective December 30, 2025, introduced provisions on sexual harassment and revised provisions on sexual assault. Offenses under these provisions that take place through online channels may result in a court order requiring the removal of the relevant content within a prescribed period, with penalties imposed for failure to comply with such a court order. Thailand is proposing further amendments to address technology-related crimes and online platform-facilitated crimes against minors, including child grooming and sexting.

  • Key issues: The proposals introduce new offenses covering online grooming, transmission of sexually explicit content to minors, and sexual extortion, alongside stricter penalties and extended extraterritorial jurisdiction, reflecting a strengthened focus on child protection in the digital environment.
  • Current status: The first round of public consultation has concluded.
  • Next steps: The Office of the Council of State will consider the draft at the third reading in January 2026.

Artificial Intelligence

AI Regulatory Framework

The Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) has continued its efforts to develop an AI regulatory framework by opening a public hearing on draft principles for future AI legislation.

  • Key issues: The proposed principles focus on a risk-based approach to AI development and deployment while supporting innovation through measures such as data reuse and sandbox mechanisms. (See more details here.)
  • Next steps: The initiative currently remains at the drafting stage, and a further public hearing on a provision-by-provision draft is expected in 2026.

Fintech

Payment Systems Act B.E. 2560 (2017)

Thailand’s payments landscape continues to be shaped by the Payment Systems Act and an active supervisory agenda from the Bank of Thailand (BOT) focused on fraud risk, interoperability, and digital-first service models.

  • Key issues: The BOT’s Guidelines for Digital Fraud Management took effect on December 17, 2025, and impose end-to-end fraud controls across prevention, monitoring, detection, and remediation for financial institutions and operators of inter-institutional fund transfer systems, e-money, and e-fund transfer services under the Payment Systems Act.

Emergency Decree on Digital Asset Businesses B.E. 2561 (2018)

Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has released relaxed digital asset regulations that pave the way for tokenization of carbon credit and renewable energy assets, expanding financing and trading options in the environmental sector.

  • Key issues: The amended regulations permit the offering, trading, and provision of other services related to tokenized carbon credits, tokenized renewable energy certificates (RECs), and tokenized carbon allowances through licensed digital asset exchanges, brokers, and dealers. This regulatory development is aimed at facilitating the green economy and the country’s net-zero goal, while increasing the diversity of products in the regulated digital assets market.

Digital Platforms

Royal Decree on the Operation of Digital Platform Service Businesses That Are Subject to Prior Notification B.E. 2565 (2022)

Thailand’s platform governance entered a more prescriptive phase in 2025-2026 as regulators moved from system registration to targeted oversight of higher-risk platform categories. In parallel, Thailand is developing a primary law, the draft Platform Economy Act (PEA), which, if enacted, is expected to supersede the royal decree and consolidate user-protection and competition tools for the platform economy.

  • Key issues: During 2025, the regulator designated online marketplaces with particular risk characteristics under section 18(2) of the royal decree and imposed additional duties focused on merchant traceability and accountability and compliance with goods standards and takedown mechanisms. With respect to the draft PEA, the principles remain under development at the Council of State, with further drafting and a subsequent hearing expected. Latest policy signals continue to envisage adoption of an EU Digital Services Act–inspired regime, with the royal decree expected to be repealed upon commencement and transitional oversight mechanisms to apply.
  • Next steps: Operators should maintain compliance with the royal decree while monitoring developments in new or amended applicable regulations, as well as the PEA’s trajectory.

Telecommunications

Foreign Satellite Operators Draft Notification

Proposed by the National Space Policy Committee (NSPC) for public consultation on August 20, 2025, with the comment period concluding on September 3, 2025, this draft aims to replace the existing notification issued in 2021 to better align with current national policies on foreign satellite usage.

  • Key issues: The draft notification permits both Thai and foreign satellite operators to use foreign satellites to operate a business providing satellite communication services within Thailand. The consideration for granting permission takes into account technical justifications, economic benefits, social benefits, and national security considerations.
  • Next steps: The draft amendments are being revised following the public consultation outcomes.

Gaming

Draft Gaming Industry Promotion Act

The draft was initially proposed by the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA) under the Minister of Digital Economy and Society (MDES) by opening a public hearing on draft principles for a future Gaming Act.

  • Key issues: The draft law aims to support the growth of Thailand’s online gaming sector while safeguarding youth and society. The draft law introduces registration requirements for developers and platforms (potentially including offshore entities), which may include a rating system. It is also expected to apply to all types of games, with particular focus on games that incorporate gambling-like features, such as lucky draw mechanisms or point-accumulation and reward-redemption systems. This reflects the Thai government’s position of combating online gambling and online scam activities.
  • Next steps: The initiative currently remains at the drafting stage, and DEPA has recently announced that it will proceed with proposing the Draft Act to the MDES for consideration and subsequent submission to the Cabinet. Further public hearing is expected within 2026.

Looking Ahead

Thailand’s technology regulatory landscape continues to develop through a combination of new legislation, subordinate regulations, regulatory guidance, and evolving enforcement priorities. Technology sector businesses should actively monitor these developments and begin preparing for possible compliance adjustments. In particular, companies should review their data governance frameworks, cybersecurity readiness, platform governance structures, and AI risk management practices to ensure they are well positioned as Thailand’s technology regulatory landscape continues to evolve.

We will continue to monitor these developments closely and provide quarterly updates to keep you informed of any significant changes or new regulatory measures impacting Thailand’s technology sector.

Related Professionals

Industries

Fintech

Technology

Location

RELATED INSIGHTS​ 

July 8, 2026
On July 7, 2026, the Trade Competition Commission of Thailand (TCCT) issued a press release announcing the establishment of two new subcommittees designed to intensify oversight of digital platforms and modern trade businesses. The formation of the digital platform subcommittee marks a significant escalation in competition enforcement following the TCCT’s Guidelines on Multi-Sided Platforms and E-Commerce Businesses, which took effect on March 25, 2026. Platform operators, sellers, and related service providers should expect heightened regulatory scrutiny and potential investigations into practices already flagged under the March guidelines. Two Dedicated Enforcement Bodies The first new body is the digital platform subcommittee—formally the Subcommittee on Supervision, Monitoring, and Prevention of Trade Conduct in Digital Platform Business. It is tasked with driving intensive oversight of digital platform businesses. It will coordinate with government agencies, the private sector, business operators, and other relevant stakeholders to supervise and prevent trade conduct that may affect competition, and to promote free and fair competition in the digital platform sector. The subcommittee will be composed of TCCT members and representatives from the Department of Internal Trade. The second body—the Subcommittee on Determining Guidelines and Action Plans Concerning Competition Conditions in Modern Wholesale and Retail Business—will study, analyze, and monitor market structure in modern wholesale and retail businesses, compile databases to analyze retail business concentration, assess impacts on small-scale operators, and propose supervisory measures for the retail sector. TCCT members will serve on the subcommittee alongside experts from government and private organizations, including the Office of Industrial Economics, the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion, the Thai SME Federation, and the Thai SME Council. Operational Impact for Industry Participants These subcommittees provide the TCCT with a focused mechanism to investigate various trade practices deemed unfair, and the TCCT has authority under the Trade Competition Act to issue cease-and-desist
Read More
July 6, 2026
Vietnam has introduced an official list of high-risk AI systems, triggering more stringent compliance obligations for developers, suppliers, and deployers operating in the country. On June 30, 2026, the prime minister issued Decision No. 33/2026/QD-TTg (Decision 33), which establishes the List of High-Risk AI Systems under the Law on Artificial Intelligence (AI Law) and Decree No. 142/2026/ND-CP (Decree 142). Decision 33 takes effect on August 15, 2026. Decision 33 is significant because only AI systems included on the list will be subject to the heightened compliance obligations applicable to high-risk AI systems under the AI Law and Decree 142. These include, among others, local presence requirements for foreign providers, mandatory conformity assessment before deployment, comprehensive risk management and data quality documentation, and strict liability for damages even when the provider is fully compliant. Decision 33 also specifies the applicable conformity assessment pathway for each listed system, indicating whether the system must undergo mandatory third-party conformity certification before being placed into use, or whether the provider may self-assess conformity or voluntarily engage a registered or recognized conformity assessment body. Which AI Systems Are Covered? Decision 33 identifies high-risk AI systems across six sectors—the key attributes of which are summarized below. Education: AI systems used for automated assessment, learner ranking, behavioral monitoring, or generating educational content from uncontrolled data sources. Ethnic affairs and religion: AI systems used to automatically score, classify, or rank applications for government ethnic policies; approve or reject regulatory applications; suspend benefits on suspicion of fraud; allocate budgets; or infer and classify individuals by ethnicity or religion for administrative purposes. Healthcare: AI-assisted surgical systems and autonomous AI-powered surgical robots. Banking: AI systems that autonomously conduct electronic banking transactions or make credit approval decisions. Judicial proceedings: Certain large-scale biometric identification systems used in public-interest civil proceedings. Transport: Thirty-one categories
Read More
July 6, 2026
Indonesia’s regulation on reporting online intellectual property (IP) infringement provides comprehensive procedural guidance for IP rights holders and their licensees in reporting online infringement complaints. Issued in December 2025 by the Ministry of Law as Regulation No. 47 of 2025 regarding Handling of Intellectual Property Infringement Reports in Electronic Systems, this regulation covers all types of IP rights. It also specifies documentation when reporting infringement, and lays out the procedures for examination, verification, and enforcement actions. Submission of Complaints Complainants may submit reports through the online system of the Directorate General of Intellectual Property (DGIP) or in person at the DGIP office. Complaints may also be filed through an authorized proxy. Under the regulation, complainants are required to provide the following information and documents: Personal details of the complainant; Brief description of the protected work or subject matter (i.e., type of IP and name or address of the infringing website, portal, account, or application, or a link to the location of the infringing content); Complete description of the alleged infringement; Certificate of registration or recordal of the relevant IP; Recordal of IP license agreement, if any; and Other supporting evidence. Verification and Examination Process Upon receiving a complaint, the responsible formality officer may request clarification or additional supporting documents. In the latter case, the complainant must then submit the necessary administrative documents within 14 days of the notification date. Once the documentation is deemed complete and sufficient, the case will be formally registered. Subsequently, the DGIP will establish a verification team to handle online IP violations, which will include the Civil Servant Investigator (PPNS), the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, experts with relevant expertise in IP, and representatives from related associations such as AVISI (Indonesian Video Streaming Association). After examining the report, the team will prepare the Minutes
Read More
July 6, 2026
Tilleke & Gibbins has contributed the Vietnam chapter to Data Protection & Privacy 2027, a global guide published by Lexology Panoramic that provides comparative insights into data protection and privacy regimes across multiple jurisdictions. The Vietnam chapter offers a comprehensive overview of the country’s data protection framework, addressing both regulatory structure and practical compliance considerations for businesses operating in or engaging with Vietnam. Topics covered include: Law and the regulatory authority: Legislative framework; data protection authority; cooperation with other data protection authorities; breaches of data protection law; judicial review of data protection authority orders Scope: Exempt sectors and institutions; interception of communications and surveillance laws; other laws; personal information formats; extraterritoriality; covered uses of personal information Legitimate processing of personal information: Lawful bases for processing; grounds for legitimate processing; types of personal information Data handling responsibilities of owners of personal information: Transparency; exemptions from transparency obligations; data accuracy; data minimization; data retention; purpose limitation; automated decision-making Security: Security obligations; notification of data breaches; internal controls Accountability: Data protection officer requirements; record-keeping; risk assessment; design of personal information processing systems Registration and notification: Registration requirements; other transparency duties Sharing and cross-border transfers of personal information: Sharing with processors and service providers; restrictions on third-party disclosures; cross-border transfers; further transfers; localization requirements Rights of individuals: Right of access; other statutory rights; compensation Enforcement: Enforcement mechanisms; exemptions, derogations, and restrictions; further exemptions and restrictions Specific data processing: Cookies and similar technologies; electronic communications marketing; targeted advertising; sensitive personal information; profiling; cloud services The chapter concludes with an update on key legal and regulatory developments over the past year and emerging trends in Vietnam’s data protection landscape. The full Vietnam chapter is available as a PDF through the button below. Readers can also gain 30 days of complementary access to the full Data
Read More