'Aich Rakchanok' criticized the TH-AI Passport event as merely a whitewashing platform. She revealed that the TOR specifications lock billboard screens to favor cronies and plans to invite Digital Economy and Society Minister Chaiyachonok to provide explanations to the budget oversight committee next week.,
On 11 June 2026, Ms. Rakchanok Srinok, a party-list MP from the Prachachon Party and chair of the committee studying and monitoring budget management, commented on the progress of the TH-AI Passport project. She said the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society has stated that the TOR cannot be changed. She expressed doubt, like many citizens, that if no changes to the TOR are possible, why hold a public consultation? She understood that the first payment installment was already made before the consultation occurred. She therefore suggested that the event is not a genuine public hearing involving IT professionals or the public but is instead staged to whitewash the project. Influencers and IT community members might be invited to provide feedback, possibly including representatives of global companies owning AI models.
The influencers invited will likely offer minor criticisms and suggest improvements. However, as the Permanent Secretary confirmed, no changes will be made. Ultimately, all feedback will be cited as evidence of improvements or better directions taken, and the project will proceed. The presence of major global companies at the event serves to legitimize the project, discussing AI's future, value, and technological progress. She urged everyone to remain mindful. Her point has always been that while ministers and permanent secretaries emphasize value, the real issue is why the project specifications are locked. If anyone is brave, she wants to ask the minister or permanent secretary at the event why the specifications are locked.
Ms. Rakchanok added that although the project is AI-related, the TOR details for publicity are very specific: only companies owning digital or billboard screens nationwide, including in convenience stores, qualify. There are only a few such companies, fewer than can be counted on two fingers. She therefore suspects the project was deliberately designed with locked specifications from the start.
Yesterday, she reviewed information comparing the 1.6 billion baht TH-AI Passport project with the National Credit Bank project under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, during the tenure of a minister from the Bhumjaithai Party in Ms. Supamas Isarapakdi's term. She noted that the TOR for publicity in that ministry's project appears nearly copied, with only units changed from 'screen' to 'point.' She questioned why the publicity details were so deeply locked in three layers. Although the projects differ, the TORs had similar locked specifications, indicating an attempt to include certain criteria in government TORs to lock in preferred contractors.
When asked about next steps, Ms. Rakchanok said she aims high, hoping to save the country 1.6 billion baht. But if Minister Chaiyachonok Chidchob pushes the project forward, she believes that if the country must spend 1.6 billion baht, the minister must pay the highest price for his credibility.
Regarding how many companies meet the locked specifications, Ms. Rakchanok said the number is not the key issue. Rather, the important point is to open competition in the industry. This process amounts to stealing the future of the entire IT sector. Instead of fair competition bringing the best to the public, locking the winner within a network steals the dreams and future of everyone in IT, preventing industry growth.
She added that using AI to search reveals the companies owning all advertising screens at Suvarnabhumi Airport. By tracing the consortium members, overlapping names will certainly appear.
On whether her previous Facebook post suggesting Plan B Company is connected, Ms. Rakchanok said the public can analyze and discern that themselves. Regarding party-list MP Pawat Pongwitthayaphanu's statement that the TOR allows contract amendments and cancellation, because the TOR permits the Ministry of Digital to cancel the project if it harms public interest, she believes the intense work over the past month has clarified the project's problems, meeting conditions for contract cancellation.
When asked about broadening the contract to medium-sized companies, she said the number of companies is not the main point. The critical issue is to allow competition in the industry. The current approach is a scheme to steal the future of the IT community. Instead of everyone competing fairly to offer the best to the public, locking the winner to a network steals the dreams and future of all in IT, hindering industry growth.
On whether they will file a complaint with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), Ms. Rakchanok said that when registration begins, that will be the time to file with the NACC. Next week (18 June 2026), her committee will meet jointly with the Legal, Justice and Human Rights Committee to examine the issue, inviting Minister Chaiyachonok, the permanent secretary, the TOR drafting team, NACC, and the Office of the Auditor General. If they do not attend, she said the committee will consider whether to exercise summons powers depending on the meeting's usefulness.
Ms. Rakchanok invited the minister to attend the committee meeting to honor the parliament and the public by showing sincerity.