Latest news with #DigitalEconomyandSociety
Bangkok Post
11-07-2025
- Business
- Bangkok Post
WebD rolled out to block illegal URLs
The Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry has launched artificial intelligence (AI) platform WebD to block illegal websites, saying it can boost its blocking capacity to greater than 70%. According to DES Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong, the platform can work 31.5 times faster than officers, reducing the process of filing a petition to the court by five working days. With the platform, the number of URLs ordered to be closed this year is expected to increase by 70.7% from last year, an average increase of 175 URLs per day. Mr Prasert said the number of illegal websites opened in Thailand exceeds 100,000 URLs per year. The platform utilises AI to search, collect evidence, create paperless court petitions and automatically send orders to internet service providers to shut down such websites. The platform also has an URL checker system to continuously check for blocking. "The WebD platform should enhance the efficiency of the process to suspend and block illegal URLs," he said. Mr Prasert said these illegal websites often represent a major portion of online crimes. The government continues developing AI technology under the principles of AI ethical governance, he said. Mr Prasert said the ministry is also expediting the implementation of its DE-fence application to prevent fraudulent calls. The app is open for the public to download the beta version for testing, with the full version expected to be launched soon, he said. The DE-fence app is a platform used to help users screen incoming calls and text messages to avoid scams, as well as verify phone numbers from important agencies such as the police or financial institutions.
Bangkok Post
05-07-2025
- Business
- Bangkok Post
Thailand Post offers virtual service
The Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry plans to support state-run logistics provider Thailand Post as it offers a neutral banking agent service to prospective virtual bank operators. Thailand Post's core strength is its nationwide network of carriers that can provide first-mile services, said DES permanent secretary Wisit Wisitsora-at. He said Thailand Post specialises in door-to-door delivery and has many years of experience, with a combined workforce of more than 25,000 carriers who know every metre of the country and are familiar with local communities. Although virtual bank operators will provide the majority of services via their virtual banking systems, Thailand Post can facilitate operations through the provision of contact points, serving virtual banks' operations through its offices and network, according to the logistics provider. The proposed service could focus on groups such as unbanked people or migrant labourers who earn their income daily as cash. Mail carriers can take their cash and deposit it in the virtual banking system, according to Thailand Post. Dhanant Subhadrabandhu, president of Thailand Post, said the state enterprise began discussing the business potential of a neutral banking agent service with a winner of a virtual bank licence. He said Thailand Post could provide several forms of operational support to all of the virtual bank lenders. "One targeted group of the service is migrant workers and Thais who do not receive a pay slip from their employers," said Mr Dhanant. Mail carriers could offer a variety of virtual banking services and related services to people at their residences, backed by Thailand Post's 1,600 post office branches countrywide, he said. Thailand Post currently operates a banking agent service for all of the country's banks, which allows people to deposit and withdraw their money at post office branches. Mr Dhanant said the state enterprise wants to turn last-mile delivery into a first-mile service, making Thailand Post the first choice for Thais for every kind of service. Moreover, Thailand Post recently adjusted its business strategy to focus more on specialised logistics services to cope with the risk of volume uncertainty associated with its delivery services. These specialised logistics include the delivery of medical supplies for both people and pets. Last month, the Finance Ministry approved three virtual banking licence applicants, allowing them to establish the country's first virtual banks. The new banks are expected to commence operations within a year from the date of licence approval. The winners were ACM Holding Co (TrueMoney), which is backed by the Charoen Pokphand Group; Krungthai Bank in collaboration with Advanced Info Service and PTT Oil and Retail Business; and the SCB X consortium of holding company Siam Commercial Bank, South Korea's largest digital bank KakaoBank, and WeBank, a global digital bank renowned for its advanced technology. The successful applicants were selected after a rigourous review by the Finance Ministry and the Bank of Thailand from five submissions received between March 20 and Sept 19, 2024.
New Straits Times
25-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Malaysia strengthens Asean collaboration on digital tech and AI
BANGKOK: Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo highlighted the nation's initiatives in advancing responsible artificial intelligence (AI) governance and fostering regional collaboration during the 3rd Unesco Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (GFEAI 2025) on Wednesday. Gobind emphasised Malaysia's commitment to promoting responsible AI governance, encouraging regional partnerships, and ensuring that the country's progress aligns with globally recognised ethical standards. "As AI continues to evolve, meaningful dialogue and international cooperation are essential for building a future that is inclusive, secure, and beneficial to all," he said during the high-level ministerial panel titled Fostering Global Dialogue on AI for a Collective Future at the Unesco GFEAI 2025. Earlier, Gobind participated in a panel discussion titled 'From Readiness Assessment to Enhanced Institutional, Technical and Human Capacities in AI.' During the session, he highlighted Malaysia's achievements, including strengthening nationwide connectivity, adopting a multi-faceted approach to infrastructure, talent, and trust development, and introducing data centre regulations to position Malaysia as a regional hub for data infrastructure. "I am confident that many more commendable milestones lie ahead. That said, I firmly believe that the next phase of advancement must be underpinned by robust and forward-looking policies and regulations. "At the Ministry of Digital, our commitment to driving this agenda remains unwavering. We will continue to strive for a digital future that is inclusive, secure, and sustainable," he said. Later in the day, Gobind held a bilateral meeting with Thailand's Minister of Digital Economy and Society, Prasert Jantararuangtong, who also serves as Deputy Prime Minister. Gobind said their discussion centred on opportunities for regional collaboration in digital technology and AI, with a particular focus on transformative applications in the agriculture, health, and transport sectors. "Building on the relationship first established during ADGMIN, we reaffirmed our shared commitment to Asean cooperation in digital technologies and AI. As Malaysia assumes the 2025 Asean Chair, I extended invitations to the upcoming Asean AI Summit in August and the Smart City Expo in September, both of which will be held in Kuala Lumpur," he said. Gobind added that both ministers also addressed the urgent need for joint action on cybersecurity threats in an increasingly AI-driven digital landscape. – BERNAMA
