Suphajee instructs 7 agencies to review digital platform laws
Thailand’s Suphajee assigns seven agencies to review digital platform rules, focusing on fair competition, algorithms and smaller businesses.
- Deputy Prime Minister Suphajee has directed seven government agencies to review Thailand's laws and regulations governing digital platforms.
- The primary goal of the review is to create fairer competition and opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the digital marketplace.
- The agencies will examine gaps in existing laws and scrutinize the transparency of product rankings and trading terms on major platforms.
- This legal review is being conducted alongside short-term efforts to reduce seller fees on platforms like Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok.
Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun has instructed seven government bodies to review Thailand’s laws and oversight of digital platforms, aiming to give small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) a fairer opportunity to compete.
The initiative combines scrutiny of the rules governing online competition with short-term efforts to reduce sellers’ fees. The government considers cost relief alone insufficient and wants to examine the wider structure of competition on digital platforms.
Suphajee discussed the approach with Deputy Interior Minister Polapee Suwunchwee and representatives of the Commerce Ministry, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, the Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA), the Office of the Consumer Protection Board, the Justice Ministry and other relevant agencies.
Seven agencies to examine gaps in existing laws
Suphajee assigned seven government bodies to jointly identify limitations in existing legislation and regulatory mechanisms:
- Office of the Council of State
- Ministry of Digital Economy and Society
- Office of Trade Competition Commission
- Office of the Consumer Protection Board
- Ministry of Commerce
- Ministry of Justice
- Ministry of Finance
The agencies are to consider how oversight can better support competition in the digital economy, taking account of their respective responsibilities and legal powers, alongside the full implications for businesses and consumers.
The meeting examined whether existing laws can keep pace with rapidly changing technologies and business models. Participants also discussed studying overseas experience to develop an approach suited to Thailand, balancing transparency and fair competition with the growth of the digital economy.
“What matters is establishing rules that give businesses of every size a fair opportunity to compete, especially SMEs with limited capital and bargaining power,” Suphajee said.
“At the same time, we must not obstruct technological development and private-sector innovation. Our goal is for the digital economy to grow while creating opportunities for Thai businesses across the board.”
Product rankings and trading terms face scrutiny
Suphajee emphasised that paid advertising and sales promotions are normal business practices that help sellers reach more consumers. The issues requiring examination are the transparency of the criteria used to rank and recommend products, and trading terms that could disadvantage certain businesses or impose unnecessarily high costs.
The review is particularly relevant to markets where large platforms play a central role in connecting buyers and sellers. Suphajee called for an assessment of whether existing competition mechanisms adequately ensure fairness for businesses of every size.
Three platforms support short-term fee reductions
Shopee, Lazada and TikTok have responded positively to the government’s approach to reducing fees for SMEs, following discussions aimed at easing the burden on smaller sellers.
The proposed reductions form part of efforts to lower the cost of selling goods and improve smaller businesses’ ability to compete.
The government intends to pursue this short-term cost relief alongside its examination of the broader competitive environment on digital platforms.
