Thailand Tightens E-Commerce Platform Rules to Curb Fraud and Protect Digital Consumers
Bangkok strengthens oversight of online marketplaces and extends regulatory duties for platforms amid rising fraud and cybercrime
Thailand has accelerated efforts to regulate e-commerce platforms more strictly as part of a broader campaign to safeguard consumers from online fraud, enhance digital market transparency and ensure accountability from major digital marketplaces.
Authorities are enforcing provisions under the Digital Platform Services framework and rolling out new directives targeting high-impact platforms and social commerce to address persistent scams and unsafe products in the online environment.
The Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) has updated its compliance requirements under Section 20 of the Digital Platform Services law, obliging digital platforms that generate significant revenue in Thailand or host thousands of monthly users to notify regulators, monitor listings, handle consumer complaints and tighten oversight of merchants and advertisements.
Key marketplace operators such as Lazada, Shopee and Facebook Marketplace are among those designated as “high-impact” entities subject to these duties, reinforcing government expectations on corporate responsibility for online safety.
Authorities are also preparing additional rules that will extend oversight to social commerce channels, closing regulatory loopholes in platforms widely used for buying and selling via social media.
This move responds to concerns that existing measures did not fully cover emerging online sales practices and that greater scrutiny is necessary to protect buyers.
The government’s intensified regulatory approach is rooted in a marked increase in online fraud and cybercrime reports.
Complaints related to fraudulent sales, counterfeit goods and investment scams have risen sharply in recent years, prompting a coordinated response involving digital platform requirements, expanded monitoring by the Anti-Online Scam Operation Center and enhanced law enforcement activity.
These efforts include risk assessments by online marketplaces, more robust complaint systems and heightened monitoring of illicit listings and advertising.
Regulators have also signalled that enforcement will include penalties for non-compliance, including fines, suspension of services or more stringent sanctions where platforms fail to meet reporting and operational obligations.
Platforms are expected to verify sellers, improve product safety checks and maintain transparent communications with consumers to uphold trust in Thailand’s expansive e-commerce ecosystem.
The strengthened regulatory framework aligns with broader legal developments in Thailand, including emergency decrees that assign shared responsibility for fraud losses to financial institutions, telecom operators and tech platforms, and preparations for enhanced cybercrime laws.
Together, these measures reflect a strategic commitment by Thai authorities to protect digital consumers, reduce online scam risks and foster a secure environment for digital commerce as the country’s digital economy continues to grow.
Authorities are enforcing provisions under the Digital Platform Services framework and rolling out new directives targeting high-impact platforms and social commerce to address persistent scams and unsafe products in the online environment.
The Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) has updated its compliance requirements under Section 20 of the Digital Platform Services law, obliging digital platforms that generate significant revenue in Thailand or host thousands of monthly users to notify regulators, monitor listings, handle consumer complaints and tighten oversight of merchants and advertisements.
Key marketplace operators such as Lazada, Shopee and Facebook Marketplace are among those designated as “high-impact” entities subject to these duties, reinforcing government expectations on corporate responsibility for online safety.
Authorities are also preparing additional rules that will extend oversight to social commerce channels, closing regulatory loopholes in platforms widely used for buying and selling via social media.
This move responds to concerns that existing measures did not fully cover emerging online sales practices and that greater scrutiny is necessary to protect buyers.
The government’s intensified regulatory approach is rooted in a marked increase in online fraud and cybercrime reports.
Complaints related to fraudulent sales, counterfeit goods and investment scams have risen sharply in recent years, prompting a coordinated response involving digital platform requirements, expanded monitoring by the Anti-Online Scam Operation Center and enhanced law enforcement activity.
These efforts include risk assessments by online marketplaces, more robust complaint systems and heightened monitoring of illicit listings and advertising.
Regulators have also signalled that enforcement will include penalties for non-compliance, including fines, suspension of services or more stringent sanctions where platforms fail to meet reporting and operational obligations.
Platforms are expected to verify sellers, improve product safety checks and maintain transparent communications with consumers to uphold trust in Thailand’s expansive e-commerce ecosystem.
The strengthened regulatory framework aligns with broader legal developments in Thailand, including emergency decrees that assign shared responsibility for fraud losses to financial institutions, telecom operators and tech platforms, and preparations for enhanced cybercrime laws.
Together, these measures reflect a strategic commitment by Thai authorities to protect digital consumers, reduce online scam risks and foster a secure environment for digital commerce as the country’s digital economy continues to grow.
