The Thai government has recently launched a major crackdown, officially initiating an operation codenamed "Net Eye," aimed at the increasingly rampant illegal trade of personal information and cybercrime activities. This special operation, jointly conducted by the Thai Police's Cybercrime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) and the Personal Data Protection Committee (PDPC), marks a critical step in Thailand's data security governance.
Dual-Track "Eagle Eye" Defense System
At a press conference held in Bangkok, the Director-General of the Thai Bureau of Technology Crime Investigation, Praden Piupan, and the Secretary-General of PDPC, Surapong Pengkan, jointly announced this strategic deployment. According to the newly introduced Amendment No. 2 to the "Act on the Prevention and Suppression of Technology Crimes," Thailand will establish a dual-track monitoring system: "Eagle Eye" and "Cyber Eye":
"Eagle Eye" team: Led by PDPC, focused on building and improving the personal data protection system
"Cyber Eye" team: Composed of cybercrime police, responsible for proactive investigation and combating data crime activities
"These two teams are like the left and right hands guarding data security," Director Praden metaphorically stated, "one is responsible for prevention, the other for enforcement, forming a complete protective loop."
Severe Punishments Deter Data Crimes
The revised decree sets clear red lines for data crime activities. According to Article 11/2, any illegal acquisition, storage, or use of personal information for cybercrime will face criminal accountability. This legal weapon officially took effect on April 13, providing strong support for law enforcement actions.
Secretary-General Surapong emphasized: "In the digital economy era, personal data is the new oil. We must protect each citizen's data security as we would a national strategic resource." Data shows that Thailand has seen a surge in cyber fraud cases due to data breaches in recent years, with losses exceeding 5 billion Thai Baht in 2023.
Collaborative Governance Model Between Government and Enterprises
The highlight of this operation is the establishment of an inter-departmental collaborative mechanism:
Technology sharing: The police crime database and PDPC regulatory platform achieve data interoperability
Joint enforcement: Special task forces are established for major cases to shorten response times
Capability building: Regular professional training for law enforcement personnel on data security
This innovative "regulation + enforcement" model has already shown effectiveness in several recent transnational data crime cases. A typical case is where law enforcement dismantled an underground trading network involving 100,000 citizens' personal information within just 72 hours.
Future-Oriented Data Security Strategy
The Thai government views this operation as a vital safeguard for the construction of the digital economy. With the full implementation of the "Personal Data Protection Act," the role of PDPC will be further strengthened. It is reported that Thailand is planning to establish a national-level data security monitoring center, expected to be operational by 2025.
"Our goal is very clear," Surapong stated, "to make Thailand a benchmark for data security governance in Southeast Asia and to lay a solid foundation for the development of the digital economy." This ambitious plan may reshape the regional data governance landscape.
Industry experts believe that Thailand's forceful response not only addresses the current data crime situation but also clears obstacles for the upcoming massive development of the digital economy. With the continuous operation of the dual "Eagle Eye" system, the data security of Thai citizens will receive more robust protection.
