Legal framework
Laws and regulations
New regulation protects pregnant students from expulsion
A newly declared ministerial regulation has barred educational institutions from expelling students for pregnancy. The Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation and the Minister of Education have employed authority bestowed by the Prevention and Solution of the Adolescent Pregnancy Problem Act to amend a ...
Bangkok Post Reporter
Sharing private data without permission can cost up to THB5m in fines
Government and private organisations can face a fine of up to 5 million baht and/or a year in prison for violating the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA), which goes into effect on Wednesday.Under PDPA, government and private sectors worldwide, including officials responsible for data administration ...
The Nation Reporter
Thailand raises age of legal immunity from 10 to 12 years old
Thailand has raised the age of criminal responsibility to 12 years old unconditionally and to 15 years with conditions, under a legal amendment that took effect on Sunday.The 29th amendment to the Criminal Code replaces Section 73 and states: “Children under the age of 12 ...
The Nation Reporter
NGOs rally against bill to keep them in check
Non-governmental organisations held a protest on Thursday demanding the dropping of draft legislation aimed at monitoring and regulating their activities.Members of several NGOs converged at the Social Development and Human Security Ministry to air their opposition to the Operations of Not-for-Profit Organisations bill (NPO bill).The ...
Bangkok Post Reporter
Renewed bid for central DNA database
The Central Institute of Forensic Science (CIFS) is maintaining its push for a law that would require DNA samples collected from criminal suspects to be stored on a central database.A central database system would aid investigations targeting criminal suspects in security cases and serious crimes, ...
Bangkok Post Reporter
New regulation against ‘fake news’ enacted
New restrictions against fake news and misinformation were enacted on Friday after being published in the Royal Gazette.The new regulation was issued under Section 9 of the Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situations. The emergency decree has been in place since March 26, ...
The Nation Reporter
Criticism mounts over digital regulatory bill
Criticism has flared over a draft royal decree meant to regulate digital platforms providing services in Thailand as participants at a public hearing on Thursday voiced concerns about unequal enforcement for local and foreign operators, additional burdens on operators, and the risk of abuse of ...
Bangkok Post Reporter
iLaw says curbs curtail free speech
The Internet Law Reform Dialogue (iLaw) group has slammed new restrictions issued under the emergency decree to curb the latest wave of Covid-19.On its Facebook page, iLaw targeted Announcement No.27 under the emergency rule which, it said, includes a provision (Restriction No.11) limiting free speech ...
Bangkok Post Reporter
New referendum law sails through Parliament
Parliament has passed a new referendum law, paving the way for amendments or a rewrite of the constitution.As a reform law, the bill was debated on Tuesday in a joint sitting of both houses. MPs and senators later voted 611-4 with two abstentions in its ...
The Nation Reporter
Thailand: Proposed initiatives to combat ‘fake news’ undermine freedom of expression
Proposed government initiatives to address ‘fake news’ would further curtail digital rights and freedom of expression in Thailand, said ARTICLE 19. In recent weeks, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES) has disclosed plans, including new regulations under the Computer Crimes Act, that would ...