Supamas declares the end of the era of shirking responsibility, launching controls over digital platforms and considering the use of class action lawsuits to help online victims.
On 1 Aug 2026 GMT+7, Ms. Supamas Isarapakdi, Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office and overseer of the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB), assigned Mr. Pradermchai Boonchuayluang, Ministerial Advisor, and Dr. Patcharin Samsiripong, Ministerial Secretary, to drive the online platform oversight policy alongside Mr. Ronarong Poolpipat, Secretary-General of the OCPB. This followed the OCPB's workshop to develop a national action plan with network partners held on 31 July at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce.
Ms. Supamas revealed that problems with online product sales—such as substandard, unsafe, or misrepresented goods—are urgent issues that must be tackled. The focus cannot be solely on sellers; the entire chain must be considered, especially digital platforms, which act as intermediaries benefiting from transactions. Although the OCPB lacks direct legal authority to shut down platforms, it plans to promote the concept of 'Shared Responsibility,' requiring platforms to jointly prevent, halt, and remedy damages in cooperation with digital agencies, online commerce, and direct sales businesses, defining clear roles and KPIs under Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's policy.
Additionally, the OCPB has been tasked to study the use of 'class action' lawsuits to assist many consumers suffering similar damages, reducing the burden on individual victims and increasing access to justice. It was emphasized that the goal is not to increase business burdens but to balance digital economic growth with consumer rights protection, thereby building trust in a transparent and fair market system.