BANGKOK, THAILAND – Thai authorities blocked a total of 437,473 illegal URLs between 1 October 2025 and 28 February 2026, with online gambling by far the largest category.
Five-month tally of the blocking campaign
According to Lalida Persvivatana, deputy government spokesperson, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society carried out the measures during the five-month period and ordered the removal of 437,473 links.
In February alone, officials blocked 132,842 links on social media platforms and websites. The blocking orders covered a wide range of content classified as illegal under Thai law.
Online gambling as main target
The largest share of removals involved online gambling content, with 362,482 URLs blocked. Authorities focused the campaign on a sector that is officially banned in Thailand and has long been promoted via international domains and rapidly changing link structures.
These shifting domains made enforcement difficult, prompting broader action against networks advertising illegal betting services. The latest measures aimed to disrupt both promotional pages and access points to gambling platforms.
Vapes, alcohol and cannabis also in the crosshairs
Beyond gambling, officials cited content related to e‑cigarettes, alcohol advertising and cannabis sales as further categories targeted for blocking. Links connected to firearms and offers related to prostitution were also removed.
The ministry treated these topics as part of a wider effort to curb access to products and services restricted or banned under Thai regulations. Enforcement covered both direct sales pages and promotional material.
Crackdown on scams, hate and pornography
In addition, the ministry blocked websites and content associated with fraud and other online scam schemes. The authorities framed these actions as part of their strategy against online crime and digital fraud.
Pages carrying misinformation, hate speech and pornographic material were also taken offline. Officials linked these blocks to attempts to limit harmful content and reduce the spread of abusive or deceptive material.
AI systems to detect faster, courts to formalize blocks
The ministry reported that it used artificial intelligence to detect and analyse illegal online activity before passing leads to enforcement platforms. These platforms supported court-ordered website blocks, which were then implemented technically as formal suspensions.
The combination of AI tools and judicial orders was intended to create a structured process for identifying and disabling access to illegal sites. Court involvement was presented as a way to formalize and legitimize the suspension of targeted URLs.
Pressure on providers and checks on effectiveness
Further tools were designed to help authorities transmit blocking orders quickly to internet service providers. Officials aimed to shorten the time between detection, legal action and technical implementation.
At the same time, checks were carried out to verify whether blocked websites remained inaccessible in the long term. The ministry stated that this follow-up was meant to curb illegal digital activities and reduce online crime.
Ongoing debate over scope of net controls
The campaign raised questions about whether mass URL blocking backed by AI could truly dry up the markets for gambling and scams, or whether providers would simply move even faster to new domains. The long-term effect on the availability of such services remained unclear.
The discussion also extended to possible overblocking and false positives, as well as the broader limits of internet control in Thailand. Public debate focused on how to balance the fight against illegal activity with concerns over access to information and online freedoms.