Thailand’s Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) and the Faculty of Law at Thammasat University have launched a joint academic initiative to study legal and regulatory approaches for digital platforms. The collaboration aims to strengthen consumer protection, support fair competition and improve online safety as digital services become increasingly embedded in daily life. According to the official announcement, the project will also help develop a new generation of researchers focused on platform governance and technology policy.
Research programme to address platform governance challenges
The partnership comes as Thailand’s digital economy continues to expand, with online marketplaces, ride-hailing applications and social media platforms playing a larger role in commerce and communication. ETDA said this growth has also created policy challenges related to consumer protection, online fraud, labour rights, intellectual property and market competition.
The agency and the university’s law faculty will jointly study 10 key issues linked to platform governance. The research is intended to support the development of policy papers, legal frameworks and future regulatory standards suited to Thailand’s economic and social context.
The programme will examine areas including online marketplace governance, the responsibilities of platform operators, protections for platform workers such as riders and drivers, social media content moderation, online scam liability, intellectual property enforcement and competition policy in digital markets.
Focus on consumer protection and fair competition
Several of the research areas reflect broader concerns among policymakers about the influence of large digital platforms and the need for clearer governance mechanisms. Studies on transparency, user control and algorithmic systems will assess how users can better understand and manage platform-driven decisions, including content filtering and access controls.
The initiative also includes work on legal responses to online scams and compensation mechanisms for affected users. Research into intellectual property protection will explore copyright, patents and trademark enforcement, including notice-and-takedown systems and the responsibilities of intermediary service providers.
ETDA has recently expanded its work on digital governance frameworks, including the introduction of an e-marketplace fee transparency framework aimed at improving fairness and accountability in online commerce.
Supporting policy development and future researchers
The collaboration is also designed to strengthen Thailand’s research capacity in digital governance. Students will participate in research, analysis and policy discussions linked to real-world regulatory challenges, working alongside legal academics and ETDA specialists.
Throughout the project, the partners plan to organise seminars and academic forums involving government agencies, businesses, platform operators and members of the public. The discussions are expected to inform policy recommendations and ensure that research outcomes reflect practical concerns from multiple stakeholders.
The work aligns with wider national efforts to strengthen governance frameworks for emerging technologies and digital services. Thailand has also advanced initiatives such as the AI Governance Sandbox and preparations for AI Governance Week 2026, both of which focus on responsible technology deployment and regulatory readiness.
By combining academic research with policy development, ETDA and Thammasat University aim to establish a stronger knowledge base for future digital platform regulation in Thailand. The initiative is intended to support balanced oversight that protects consumers, supports workers and promotes fair market conditions while responding to evolving technological change.
This article is created with the assistance of OpenGov AI.