In an op-ed article published on 20 February 2026 in the Bangkok Post, Jompon Pitaksantayothin, Country Researcher for Thailand for LIRNEasia’s D4D Asia project, discusses the growing tensions within Thailand’s data governance framework following the introduction of the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA). While the PDPA was intended to strengthen privacy protections, its interaction with existing transparency laws has created confusion within government agencies about what information can be disclosed. In particular, conflicts between the PDPA and the Official Information Act of Thailand have led some agencies to withhold information on the grounds that it constitutes personal data, even though such information has traditionally been considered publicly disclosable.
He argues that these overlapping legal frameworks have weakened transparency, accountability, and public trust. Agencies often rely on broad secrecy provisions or misinterpretations of data protection rules to deny access to information, while citizens remain uncertain about how their personal data is protected, particularly in cases of data breaches. He calls for stronger coordination among institutions such as the Personal Data Protection Committee and the Digital Government Development Agency to harmonise Thailand’s data governance laws and establish a clear framework that balances privacy protection with the public’s right to access information.
Read the full article in the Bangkok Post.
