In the first half of 2025, Thailand accelerated efforts to strengthen data protection under the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA), aiming for zero data breaches. The Personal Data Protection Committee (PDPC), the independent body enforcing the law, has stepped up compliance monitoring, issuing corrective orders, public warnings, and new guidance. Authorities also targeted emerging threats such as call center scams and cyber fraud, introducing amendments to the Emergency Decree on Technological Crimes.

Several initiatives supported compliance, including PDPA training programs and the launch of the PDPC Regulator Checklist, which outlines 10 priority areas for organizations. The PDPC also published a guideline report summarizing recent decisions to clarify expectations for businesses.

To promote secure cross-border data transfers, Thailand advanced the adoption of ASEAN Model Contractual Clauses and participated in the Global Cross-Border Privacy Rules (CBPR) framework, which facilitates data flows among member economies. In parallel, draft principles for future data-sharing legislation were released to align with international standards like the EU Data Act and Data Governance Act.

On the technology front, the government approved the Government Platform for PDPA Compliance, requiring all agencies to adopt standardized digital tools for data protection. Separately, Thailand’s Electronic Transactions Development Agency published a draft AI law encouraging AI innovation, including provisions for data sandboxes and reuse of personal data with safeguards. [Tille & Gibbins]

Thailand’s Ombudsman, an independent constitutional body tasked with investigating public maladministration and recommending reforms, has formally called on Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to act urgently against widespread use of “nominee” structures by foreign nationals to acquire land and real estate.

The move follows disclosures that foreigners have built large property holdings in provinces such as Bangkok, Phuket, Chonburi, and Chiang Mai, often through Thai individuals or companies acting as proxies to mask true ownership. According to initial investigations, these arrangements typically involve leasing schemes, nominee shareholding in Thai entities, or purchases by family members—mechanisms that effectively circumvent Thai laws restricting foreign land ownership.

The Cabinet has acknowledged the Ombudsman’s findings and instructed the Ministry of Commerce to lead a coordinated response. Thirteen other agencies, including the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, the Royal Thai Police, the Anti-Money Laundering Office, and the Bank of Thailand, will participate in a joint review. The group has been given 30 days to deliver recommendations on how to close loopholes and strengthen enforcement.

The Ombudsman’s Office has also been tasked with reviewing current legal frameworks and operational practices to propose changes aimed at reducing opportunities for abuse while minimizing unnecessary burdens on legitimate transactions. [The Nation]

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has endorsed eight new measures aimed at preventing technology-related crime, requiring telecom operators to tighten controls over users and SIM card registrations. The measures, based on the amended emergency decree that took effect in April, will be formally announced and then enforced.

Under the new rules, operators must monitor and suspend users showing suspicious behavior, such as making excessive calls or using SIM card boxes. They must also freeze any numbers flagged by the NBTC as suspicious within 24 hours for mobile operators and within three days for other providers.

The measures further require telecom companies to reverify customer registrations completed from January 2024 onward within 90 days and those registered earlier within one year. Application-based SMS services must pre-register sender names and have links reviewed before messages are sent.

Foreign SIM card registrations will be restricted: each foreigner can hold no more than three SIM cards per provider, tourist SIM cards will be limited to 60-day validity, and topping up credit after expiry will require reauthentication. Unauthorized SIM boxes holding more than four SIM cards will be prohibited.

Finally, all incoming overseas calls must carry a clear prefix to warn recipients. The NBTC stressed that operators and financial institutions will share liability for losses from cybercrime unless they can prove compliance with these measures. [Bangkok Post]

The Labour Ministry has raised unemployment compensation for workers insured under Thailand’s social security system. Under a new regulation that took effect June 28, laid-off employees covered by Section 33—which applies to most formal-sector workers aged 15–60—are now entitled to 60 percent of their daily wage, up from 50 percent, for up to 180 days per claim.

The updated policy also expands support to those who resign voluntarily or whose contracts expire. These workers will receive 30 percent of their daily wage for up to 90 days per year. To qualify, individuals must have contributed to the fund for at least six months within the past 15 months, be unemployed for at least eight days, and register via the Department of Employment’s website. Beneficiaries are required to check in online monthly to maintain eligibility. [Bangkok Post]

Thai police have arrested fifteen Chinese nationals and two Myanma employees for operating a call center scam out of a luxury house in Chiang Mai, a major city in northern Thailand popular with tourists and long-term foreign residents. Authorities said the group used Thai nominees to acquire the property and set up telecom systems to target Chinese nationals abroad, luring victims into online gambling and casinos in neighboring countries.

Officers seized 10 computers, 26 mobile phones, and other equipment linked to the operation. Investigators believe the network had expanded its activities by renting or purchasing properties in housing estates, hotels, and condominiums across the North to coordinate scams through social media and online platforms.

The crackdown is part of broader efforts to suppress so-called Chinese “grey businesses”—illicit operations that exploit local real estate and telecom infrastructure as hubs for transnational fraud. Police said the investigation will widen to uncover additional locations and collaborators. [Bangkok Post]

Thailand’s ruling coalition is recalibrating its legislative priorities as mounting public criticism, coalition fractures, and economic strain force it to back away—at least temporarily—from plans to legalize casinos while accelerating consideration of contentious political amnesty bills.

The government’s proposal to establish integrated entertainment complexes, including legal casinos, has been formally demoted to the bottom of the legislative agenda after a Senate review panel warned the bill could violate multiple provisions of the 2017 Constitution. The panel concluded that presenting the measure as a generic “entertainment complex” bill without fully disclosing the casino component risked breaching sections requiring transparency, public consultation, and alignment with the national strategy. Critics also challenged the bill’s economic rationale, noting that it would restrict gambling to Thais with at least THB 50 million (USD 1.4 million) in assets, reinforcing perceptions that it was designed to benefit the wealthy.

Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, cited the casino policy as one reason for his party’s recent departure from the coalition, calling it a plan to concentrate wealth among a narrow circle while offering few benefits to the broader population. In response to intensifying backlash, the ruling Pheu Thai Party announced it would formally propose in the House of Representatives to postpone consideration of the Casino Bill by at least one month. [Bangkok Post 1] [Bangkok Post 2]

This decision has fueled speculation that Pheu Thai is buying time to build public acceptance of the measure and to cultivate goodwill among MPs in parallel debates on political amnesty, though party leaders deny any direct vote-trading. According to an analysis by Thai PBS, the postponement is widely seen as part of a behind-the-scenes arrangement to avoid further fracturing the coalition while showing progress on other priorities.

With the casino legislation sidelined, parliamentary attention has shifted to four separate amnesty proposals aimed at resolving the legal consequences of decades of street protests, coups, and political conflict.The key dividing line is whether lèse-majesté should be part of the amnesty, an issue that has repeatedly blocked consensus. In October 2024, a motion to broaden amnesty to cover Section 112 was defeated by a large majority, and the same fault lines persist.

House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha has urged government and opposition whips to accelerate the review process. If the House accepts the principle of all four drafts, they will be debated together in first reading before lawmakers attempt to forge a compromise version in the second and third readings. Even if the final bill stalls, leaders will be able to claim they have made a good-faith effort to advance reconciliation. [Bangkok Post 3] [Thai PBS, in Thai]

Thailand’s political crisis has escalated sharply after the Constitutional Court suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra over allegations she breached constitutional ethics by criticizing the military in a leaked call with Cambodia’s strongman Hun Sen. She has 15 days to respond to the complaint. The suspension comes just weeks after the largest coalition partner left the government, fueling concerns that the administration could collapse before Parliament passes the 2026 budget in August.

Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit is now leading a fragile coalition—but he is expected to be replaced later this week by incoming interior minister Phumtham Wechayachai—at a time when the country is grappling with record household debt, slowing growth, and fears of new U.S. tariffs on Thai exports. The Finance Ministry has already cut the 2025 GDP growth forecast to 1.3 percent, while Bangkok Bank, one of Thailand’s largest commercial banks, has downgraded its own projection to 2 percent, citing political instability, weaker tourism, and external trade risks. In a worst-case scenario with 10–15 percent tariffs and prolonged deadlock, growth could fall as low as 1.5 percent.

Bangkok Bank warned that both public and private sector investment decisions are being delayed as businesses wait for clarity on the leadership crisis and U.S. trade policy. Although Thai exports were strong earlier this year due to stockpiling by importers anticipating tariffs, demand is expected to decline in the second half. Meanwhile, tourism faces setbacks from security concerns, declining Chinese arrivals, and the recent earthquake in Bangkok.

Market reactions to the suspension were mixed: the baht edged lower while the stock index briefly rose on hopes that removing Paetongtarn could ease tensions. But analysts caution that any gains could prove short-lived if a new political vacuum emerges. If the court ultimately rules against Paetongtarn, she would be the third Shinawatra family member removed from office, triggering a parliamentary vote to select a new premier from candidates including senior Pheu Thai figure Chaikasem Nitisiri and representatives from the Democrat Party, United Thai Nation, and former coalition partner Bhumjaithai, a centrist party.

Paetongtarn, whose approval rating has fallen to 9.2 percent amid street protests, was reassigned as culture minister just hours before her suspension. Observers warn that persistent uncertainty could deepen the investment slowdown and undermine efforts to stabilize Thailand’s already fragile economy. [Bangkok Post 1] [Bangkok Post 2]

Thailand’s Manufacturing Production Index (MPI) rose 1.8 percent year on year in May to 100.79 points, marking the second consecutive month of expansion, according to the Office of Industrial Economics. Growth was driven by a 12.8 percent increase in car manufacturing, spurred by strong bookings at the Motor Show, and an 18.4 percent rise in export values over the past 11 months as factories rushed to ship goods ahead of an expected 36 percent U.S. tariff on Thai imports starting in July. Palm oil production surged 25 percent on higher demand from India, China, and Myanmar, while sugar output climbed 21 percent due to abundant rainfall and expanded cultivation.

Capacity utilization improved to 61 percent in May, up from 56.6 percent in April. However, air conditioner manufacturing fell by over 10 percent as domestic sales declined during the rainy season and low-cost imports increased. [Bangkok Post]

The Federation of Thai Industries has called on the Industry Ministry to impose stricter measures to limit rolled steel production and avoid a worsening oversupply that has already reduced factory utilization rates to below 30 percent.

The glut is driven by cheap imports from China and sluggish demand in Thailand’s construction and automotive sectors, alongside concerns about rising U.S. tariffs. The cabinet has already extended a ban on building or expanding factories producing steel bars and small steel bars until 2030, but industry representatives now want similar restrictions applied to hot and cold rolled steel production for at least five more years.

Thailand’s annual steel consumption is projected to remain steady at 16 million tons, with about 60 percent used in construction and 30 percent in the automotive sector. Meanwhile, exporters fear the impact of U.S. plans to double steel and aluminium tariffs to 50 percent, which could further pressure domestic producers as Thailand remains among the largest aluminium exporters to the United States. [Bangkok Post]

China’s imports of fresh durians dropped sharply in the first five months of 2025 as stricter sanitation and pesticide inspections disrupted trade.

Imports from Thailand declined by 24 percent year on year in value terms to USD 1.67 billion, though the country remained China’s top supplier. Vietnam was more severely affected, with shipments plunging by nearly 62 percent to USD 254 million, reflecting persistent difficulties in meeting China’s stricter standards for pesticide residues and contaminants.

Analysts noted that Thailand was quicker to set up farm-level testing and regain Chinese trust, while many Vietnamese growers lacked proper screening systems and export-quality controls.

The tightened measures also targeted toxic dyes and heavy metals, delaying approvals and reducing Vietnam’s share of durian exports to China from over 90 percent to about 58 percent within a year. [Bangkok Post]

Thailand’s Commerce Ministry is investigating reports that rice grown in Cambodia is being marketed in China with packaging falsely displaying the Thai flag and official certification emblems used for authentic Thai Hom Mali jasmine rice.

Officials said Thai residents in China alerted authorities after spotting products bearing labels resembling the Thai Hom Mali Rice Certificate Mark, a logo issued by the Department of Foreign Trade to guarantee genuine Thai jasmine rice. Some of the rice was labeled “Cambodian Jasmine Rice,” while other brands misleadingly used the “Thai Hom Mali Rice” name, raising concerns about consumer confusion and potential damage to Thailand’s reputation in the Chinese market.

Thai trade offices in seven Chinese cities have begun working with importers and e-commerce platforms to remove improperly labeled products and educate consumers about identifying genuine certification marks. The ministry is also coordinating with Chinese regulators to tighten enforcement, with further legal action possible against sellers engaged in false advertising.

Meanwhile, Thailand exported 3.05 million tonnes of rice in the first five months of 2025, 26 percent less than the same period last year, mainly due to stronger price competition and weaker demand from Indonesia and the Philippines. The National Rice Policy and Management Committee has approved over THB 50 billion (USD 1.45 billion) in support measures to stabilize prices for the 2025/2026 crop year. [Bangkok Post]

The Finance Ministry has not yet approved tax benefits for the proposed Thailand Individual Savings Account (TISA), a long-term investment program modeled after Japan’s NISA, which is intended to encourage more Thais to invest in the stock market by offering tax exemptions. This delay is slowing progress on the Stock Exchange of Thailand’s broader Jump+ initiative, a three-year development plan to help listed companies strengthen sustainability, governance, and long-term growth from 2026 to 2028.

Jump+ is funded by a THB 550 million (USD 15.95 million) grant from the Capital Market Development Fund, enabling each participating company to access up to THB 5 million (USD 145,000) for advisory services and THB 3 million (USD 87,000) in seed capital per project. The Securities and Exchange Commission is also supporting these reforms through its Corporate Value Up programme, which provides incentives linked to environmental and governance improvements via Thai ESG funds.

Officials stressed that trading liquidity in Thailand has dropped by 60–70 percent over the past five years, falling from an average daily turnover of THB 80–100 billion to just THB 30–40 billion (USD 870 million–1.16 billion). To address these challenges, authorities are adopting models proven in Japan and South Korea, where similar initiatives successfully boosted long-term investment and improved corporate standards. [Bangkok Post]

The Department of Business Development announced that Thailand attracted THB 88.94 billion (USD 2.58 billion) in foreign investment between January and May 2025, a 24 percent increase from the same period last year.

Japan was the largest investor, with 85 companies committing THB 41 billion (USD 1.19 billion) into sectors such as raw material procurement, machinery parts, software development, and professional services. Singapore followed with 52 investors contributing THB 11.4 billion (USD 331 million), targeting rail transit control systems and digital service platforms. Chinese firms ranked third, with 53 projects worth THB 7.54 billion (USD 219 million) in wholesale industrial parts, contract manufacturing for automotive components and appliances, and eco-friendly packaging.

A total of 426 foreign entities were authorized to do business in Thailand under the Foreign Business Act during the first five months of the year. Of these, 105 received foreign business operation licenses, while 321 were certified under special channels such as Board of Investment privileges, industrial estate laws, and international agreements.

The Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), a flagship development zone spanning Chachoengsao, Chonburi, and Rayong provinces aimed at high-tech and infrastructure investment, continued to draw strong interest. In the first five months, 129 foreign entities invested THB 47.7 billion (USD 1.38 billion) in the EEC, accounting for 54 percent of all foreign investment nationwide. Japan led EEC inflows with 37 projects worth THB 23.90 billion (USD 694 million), followed by China with 30 projects totaling THB 4.4 billion (USD 127 million) and Singapore with 11 projects valued at THB 6.02 billion (USD 175 million). The remaining 51 projects from other countries contributed THB 13.37 billion (USD 388 million). [Bangkok Post]

Thailand’s household debt ratio declined to 87.4 percent of gross domestic product in the first quarter of 2025, down from 88.4 percent at the end of 2024, reaching its lowest level since early 2020. The Bank of Thailand reported that nominal household debt decreased slightly to THB 16.35 trillion (USD 474 billion), supported by economic growth of 3.1 percent and stricter lending standards by banks.

The government’s debt relief measures, targeting approximately 1.9 million borrowers with total obligations of THB 890 billion (USD 25.8 billion), contributed to easing pressure. Most household debt remains concentrated in personal consumption loans, prompting commercial banks to tighten approvals for auto and consumer credit. As a result, overall bank loan portfolios contracted for a third consecutive quarter.

Analysts noted that Thai banks, already under strain from rising bad loans and political uncertainty, face additional risks from US tariffs, as Thailand’s exports to the United States have surged 89 percent over the past five years and now represent 18 percent of total exports. [Bangkok Post]