On May 28, 2025, Thailand’s House of Representatives unanimously approved the first reading of two significant draft laws aimed at tackling cybercrime and tightening regulation of digital assets. The bills, proposed by the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, are the Prevention and Suppression of Technology Crime Act and the Digital Asset Business Act.
The proposed legislation seeks to hold financial institutions and mobile phone service providers legally accountable for losses incurred by customers who fall victim to call center scams—a persistent issue that has inflicted widespread financial harm, particularly on the elderly.
Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, MP for the People’s Party, emphasized the economic damage caused by these scams, noting that about 20% of victims are elderly individuals who often lose their life savings. He stressed that call center scammers are more than mere criminals—they are a serious threat to society and the national economy.
Wiroj praised the Cyber Crime Act for its provision requiring commercial banks and telecom companies to share liability for losses suffered by scam victims. He believes the law will motivate these institutions to implement stronger security protocols and take more proactive steps to protect consumers.
However, he cautioned that effective enforcement of the new law depends on the timely issuance of related regulations and by-laws. Wiroj urged the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society to clearly outline a timeline for implementing these additional rules to ensure the act’s swift and practical application.
