Thailand has begun discussions to develop a framework for its Digital ID initiative. The framework is required to tackle the private and public sector organisations’ difficulty in providing single Digital ID access without requiring multiple identity verification.
Digital ID (Digital ID), also known as digital identity verification and validation, is a tool that tells and confirms citizens’ identities without being forged. The citizen can acquire all online services with a single Digital ID, eliminating the need to register for duplicate identification verification. The programme attempts to make internet transactions more secure and dependable.
Thus, the Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) sets the stage for the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society to invite six agencies to discuss the future of Thai Digital ID. The discussion on the ‘Framework for Driving Thailand’s Digital Identity Verification and Authentication Phase 1 2022 – 2024’ will clarify Thai Digital ID direction for all industries.
Revenue Department, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Digital Government Development Agency (Public Organization) (Por Por.) and Office of the Broadcasting Commission The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC Office) and National Digital ID Co., Ltd. (NDID) met to review and update the country’s future Digital ID direction under the function of each agency, as well as to have a common understanding of the programme.
Sanchai Techanimitwat, an information technology and information systems expert at the Department of Provincial Administration highlights the importance of completing Digital ID by 2023. The Department of Provincial Administration must expedite the readiness of Digital ID for online transactions using the D.DOPA application service.
The online transaction digital ID must be integrated with a digital face verification and authentication system or FVS (Face Verification Service) to improve authentication and verification quality. As a result, users no longer need to travel to the district office to dip-chip their ID card to receive Digital ID authentication. Instead, users can request or change information stored in the Department of Provincial Administration’s database, referred to as “self-service”, via the D.DOPA app. The Thai government will expand the use of Digital IDs to foreigners in the next phase.
D.DOPA can be used for various digital civil registration services, such as house registration. Copies and issues certifications for new home construction information. The government planned to expand the programme to include more than 31 other services, including potential for private service providers.
The Revenue Department will link Digital ID with the ‘Paotang’ online tax filing app. According to Chancharoen Thepsutha, Director of the Revenue Department’s Electronic Tax Administration Division, Digital ID will enable taxpayers to authenticate and validate the identity of various services they have familiar with. For instance, E-FILING service (e-filing), online tax payment, filing history, and tax submission. Following that, the agency is planning to expand the online tax filing service via the wallet app. In addition, it will also include ‘Online VAT registration’ for e-commerce businesses.
Digital ID facilitates online transactions. Increase online transaction security since users know who owns the transaction. It is crucial, particularly in banking and the capital market industry. Assistant Secretary-General for Digital Technology, Wiboon Pattarapibul, citing the Securities and Exchange Commission, states all transactions in the capital market industry today are legally binding. Digital ID is required to make investor transactions more convenient, trustworthy, and fast. Furthermore, ETDA’s requirements have been refined to be more appropriate for the government setting.
Chaichana Mitrphan, Director of ETDA, believes accelerating Thai people’s usage of digital IDs is essential. This is a critical challenge for ETDA in convincing consumers that their Digital IDs are secure. Another barrier is simplifying the registration process to improve citizen engagement.