At 10:00 AM on May 28, Thailand’s House of Representatives convened a special session to deliberate two royal decrees (RDs): the Cybercrime Prevention and Suppression Measures Act (No. 2), B.E. 2568 (2025) and the Digital Asset Business Act (No. 2), B.E. 2568 (2025). The cabinet proposed the bills, and both sides were allotted two hours each for debate.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Economy and Society, Prasert Jantararuangthong, stated that the 2023 version of the cybercrime law was inadequate for tackling evolving tech crimes. The update aims to speed up victim compensation, freeze mule accounts, clarify duties of financial institutions and telecoms, and address illegal digital asset transfers.

Chuti Krairiksh (United Thai Nation Party) urged real action, citing incomplete crackdowns in northern and eastern border areas and suggested using AI to combat crime more effectively. He also stressed that light penalties and lack of tools for enforcement hinder progress.

Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn (Progressive People’s Party) emphasized the scale of call center scams, with many elderly victims losing lifelong savings. He backed the bill, particularly Section 8/10, which holds banks, mobile carriers, and social media providers jointly accountable for losses. This, he argued, would motivate institutions to bolster their cybersecurity.

Wiroj also criticized the lack of supporting regulations and questioned the timeline for drafting necessary ministerial guidelines. He warned that without full implementation, the law would be ineffective. He highlighted that call center scams siphon 30 billion baht annually from the economy, while online gambling drains 60 billion.

Rangsiman Rome, also from the Progressive People’s Party, stressed the need to dismantle transnational crime networks and address domestic weaknesses. He pointed to ineffective enforcement in Cambodia and persistent issues like mule accounts and fake SIMs. Rome urged lawmakers to prioritize citizens' safety and questioned the lack of effective account-blocking mechanisms.

He criticized the unfair legal burden placed on ordinary victims, who lack legal resources compared to large corporations. Rome concluded that enforcement must be visible and decisive, and the collaboration between Parliament and the Cabinet is crucial.

The House approved both decrees:

  • Cybercrime Decree: 452 votes in favor, 0 against, 2 abstentions.
  • Digital Asset Decree: 453 votes in favor, 0 against, 2 abstentions.