BANGKOK, THAILAND – The Thai government has ordered Google, LINE and TikTok to enforce new digital identity rules in a sweeping crackdown on cyber fraud announced this week.
Digital Minister leads emergency meeting
On Tuesday in Bangkok, Digital Minister Chaichanok Chidchob met executives from Google, LINE, and TikTok, demanding stronger action against online crime and fake accounts.
During the session, the Ministry of Digital Economy required all three global tech platforms to implement face recognition and real-name verification systems for every new or existing Thai user. Advertisers must undergo stricter checks to eliminate anonymous operations.
SIM card ownership capped at five per person
A new regulation by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) limits each citizen to a maximum of five SIM cards. Registration of new phone numbers will now use Dip-Chip biometric verification to prevent identity abuse along border regions.
A commission official stated that stricter verification would stop untraceable mobile numbers widely used by scammers.
Money mule accounts restricted
Under the new plan, individuals flagged as money couriers will receive only “restricted SIM cards.” Their information will be cross-verified through the Interior Ministry’s database, allowing authorities to monitor real-time activity across transfers.
Thailand eyes UN cybercrime convention
The government is preparing to join the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, already adopted by 71 countries and the European Union. A special committee is currently reviewing the accession process.
Compensation and legal reform ahead
The National Policy Committee is evaluating proposals to establish compensation payments for scam victims, marking the first such initiative in Thai law. The government will also amend the Electronic Transactions Act to require higher transparency and traceability from all digital intermediaries.
Officials confirmed that enforcement under the revised act would begin immediately after parliamentary review in Bangkok.
Immediate measures announced
– 5-SIM limit per person enforced nationwide by NBTC
– Real-name and face recognition mandated for social media and advertisers
– Interior Ministry data link for restricted SIM users
– Participation in UN Convention against Cybercrime under review
– Compensation proposal for fraud victims to reach Cabinet within weeks
Digital Minister Chaichanok Chidchob said the initiative aims to block every loophole exploited by organized cyber gangs and restore accountability across Thailand’s online ecosystem.