Thailand: Implemented Royal Decree on Digital Platforms introducing registration requirements for digital platforms

On 19 August 2023, Thailand implemented the Royal Decree on Digital Platforms, which was issued on 22 December 2022. The decree covers any intermediary digital platform that involves digital traders - which includes sellers of intangible assets - and digital consumers. It requires digital platforms to notify the Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) of the operation of its digital platform. Digital platform providers already under the supervision of other national authorities and those on the list of digital platform providers exempted by the Electronic Transactions Commission are exempted from this obligation. In addition, certain digital platform providers will be obliged to notify consumers of information as part of the terms of service, including classification criteria for goods or services, classification of illegal or sensitive content, and access to and use of data shared by users. Notification to users will have to take place before or at the time of the service. Finally, the decree specifies that its provisions also apply to digital platform operators based outside of Thailand. Foreign operators are required to hire personnel (coordinators) specifically to assist Thai users.