On 11^th September 2018, the Thai Cabinet approved the Digital Identification Bill (“Digital ID Bill”) in principle.  The Digital ID Bill is expected to be passed by the National Legislative Assembly (“NLA”) and become effective by the middle of next year.  This bill once enacted will set up the digital ID system to facilitate and expedite the processes of verification of identity of people via online platform.

Mr. Sansern Kaewkamnerd, the government spokesman, said that the bill will stipulate criteria, means and conditions for businesses using the digital ID platform and directives on how to protect people who own the information collected and stored in the platform.  He added that currently, several transactions or contracts require personal identification or authentication of which the identification process requires the users/customers to show and submit many documents to prove their identity to the service providers.  Therefore, the digital ID system once implemented will benefit both the users and service providers and eliminate the repetition of verification process needed to be done by the users for each transaction with each service provider.

There are three significant players in the digital ID system under the Digital ID Bill, i.e. (1) an identity provider (“IDP”), (2) a relaying party (“RP”) and (3) an authoritative source (“AS”).  In this digital ID system, once an entity (as an IDP) conducts an electronic Know-Your-Customer process (“KYC”) or a process of an identity verification and already confirms the identity of the user or client, an RP may electronically identify and authenticate its user by relying on existing IDP’s confirmed identity information without conducting the e-KYC process all over again.  An AS is an entity that has access to, or verified copies of, accurate information from a trusted issuing source such that the IDP can confirm the validity of the identity evidence supplied by a user during identity authentication process.

Under the Digital ID Bill, a service provider who will operate the digital ID platform must get a license from the Digital Economy and Society Minister. The National Digital Identification Committee (“NDID Committee”) will be set up to govern digital authentication and supervise the digital ID platform.

Once the Digital ID Bill is passed by the NLA, we will update readers in future issues of our newsletters.