Deputy Prime Minister Anutin launched “Digital Shield” to build a protective barrier for Thais against online threats, stressing that enforcement alone is insufficient; prevention before money is lost is essential. The initiative involves banks, mobile operators, and platforms working together to close fraudsters’ loopholes.
At 13:30 on 15 August 2026 at Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lamphong), Ms. Ratchada Thanadirek, spokesperson of the Prime Minister's Office, announced that Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul presided over the opening of the first DE Digital Shield Forum, a traveling online threat awareness exhibition designed to equip citizens with knowledge to protect themselves and their families from becoming victims of fraud. The event was attended by Minister of Digital Economy and Society Chaiyan Chidchob, Deputy Minister Nan Boonthida Somchai, officials from related agencies, and the public.
Before the ceremony began, attendees observed a moment of silence to pay respects to Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother, and Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendiradebyavati, the Princess Royal.
The Prime Minister said that while technology has made people’s lives more convenient, criminals also use it to deceive more swiftly and subtly. Online threats are close to home; sometimes, just answering one call, clicking one link, or trusting a few suspicious lines of text can cause a lifetime’s savings to disappear.
Recently, there was a warning about voice imitation scams where a fake voice of a child called a father to rush him into transferring money. However, the father remained calm and asked verification questions, avoiding victimization. This highlights that beyond government systems, “awareness and knowledge” are the first line of defense protecting citizens’ money and assets.
The Prime Minister emphasized that the government has made combating online crime a national priority and will act seriously from start to finish, addressing mule accounts, mule SIM cards, financial routes, infrastructure exploited for crime, as well as call center gang networks and transnational crimes.
At the same time, solving this problem requires cooperation from many parties, including banks, telecom providers, digital platforms, security agencies, and related private sectors, who must work together to close loopholes so their systems and services are not used as tools by criminals.
“The government’s role is to create protection systems, manage offenders, and assist citizens when incidents occur. But the closest shield to each of us is awareness and knowledge. If you receive suspicious calls or messages, do not rush to believe or transfer money. If uncertain, check with close contacts or trusted agencies first,” the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister also urged that the knowledge gained from the DE Digital Shield Forum be shared beyond the attendees, encouraging people to pass on what they learn to family and close contacts, because when one person is aware, they can help prevent harm to many more.
“If one person has a shield, they protect themselves. But if knowledge is passed on, this shield can protect the whole family and society. Digital Shield is not just about enabling Thais to use technology, but ensuring everyone can use it confidently, safely, responsibly, and without falling victim,” the Prime Minister said.
Ms. Ratchada said a key goal of the event is to equip the public with knowledge they can apply in daily life—from recognizing scam calls and messages, being cautious about links or personal data requests, verifying before transferring money, to knowing where to seek help if something suspicious occurs—because harm from online crime is not just economic figures but affects people’s savings, income, and family stability.
Following this, the Prime Minister visited exhibitions and educational activities presented by agencies within the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society and related organizations such as the Bank of Thailand, Thailand Post, the Technology Crime Suppression Division (Cyber Police), and the Securities and Exchange Commission to raise public awareness of rapidly evolving online threats and teach self-protection methods and help channels when incidents arise.
