The Personal Data Protection Committee (PDPC) has joined forces with UNICEF Thailand to swiftly develop guidelines for protecting children's personal data in the AI era. They plan to establish a special task force aimed at balancing innovation with safety in the digital world.
The Personal Data Protection Committee (PDPC) is advancing efforts to enhance children's rights protection in the digital realm by partnering with UNICEF Thailand. Muhammad Rafique Khan, Head of Child Protection, and Santi Sirithirajet, Child Protection Specialist from UNICEF Thailand, engaged in in-depth discussions to establish personal data protection guidelines for children within the rapidly expanding context of artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
Police Colonel Surapong Plengkham, Secretary-General of the Personal Data Protection Committee, revealed that this discussion aims primarily to elevate standards for protecting children's personal data in step with the rapidly evolving AI technology landscape. PDPC has invited feedback from UNICEF on the draft guidelines regarding personal data protection related to AI, following prior public consultations.
PDPC emphasizes integrating "children" concretely into the data protection regulatory framework, especially as AI increasingly influences children's daily lives. It is necessary to strike a balance between promoting innovation and safeguarding the rights of children and youth.
During the discussions, perspectives were exchanged on AI's impact on children and youth, highlighting both "opportunities" such as access to learning, digital skill development, and public services, as well as concerning "risks" including:
Privacy violations.
Improper use of data.
Algorithmic effects that may interfere with children's behavior and decision-making.
In this collaboration, PDPC, led by Police Colonel Siripol Kusonsilput, Deputy Secretary-General for Legal and Litigation Affairs, participated in addressing these issues. Currently, PDPC is developing guidelines on AI use and personal data processing, focusing on the principles of "Responsible Data Use" and "Proactive Protection." These guidelines aim to enable both public and private sectors to apply them concretely, especially in systems related to children such as online education platforms, youth applications, and various digital services.
Additionally, PDPC is studying the feasibility of imposing additional measures for high-risk AI systems, particularly those processing large volumes of children's data, which may require stricter oversight regarding transparency, auditability, and rights impact assessments before deployment.
Another key issue is the plan to set up a special task force on child data protection to study, analyze, and develop policy frameworks suited to Thailand’s context. This will integrate cooperation from multiple sectors including regulators, academics, private sector, and international organizations to ensure comprehensive and sustainable child data protection. This collaboration with UNICEF marks an important step in raising Thailand’s standards for children's personal data protection to align with global best practices and effectively meet AI-era challenges.
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