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In a collaborative endeavour, the Digital Government Development Agency (DGA) and a domain company have introduced an innovative link-shortening system named ‘dg.th’ during a MoU signing ceremony, with the goal of enhancing and refining the capabilities of the shortening system for the benefit of government agencies.
Dr Supoj Thienwut, Director of the Digital Government Development Agency and the director of the domain company said the initiative marks a significant advancement in digital solutions for the government sector.
The project’s primary objective is the development of an advanced link-shortening system tailored to cater to government entities nationwide. This enhancement seeks to revolutionise the efficiency of link-sharing, facilitating the streamlined dissemination of crucial information from government agencies through secure and dependable online platforms.
Dr Supoj Thienwut emphasised the pressing concern of cyber threats stemming from traditional practices of sharing shortened links, which introduce vulnerabilities through the necessity of clicking to ascertain a link’s credibility, potentially exposing users to malicious activities.
To address this challenge and align with the Electronic Services Act B.E. 2565, the DGA has taken the lead in this project with dual objectives. Firstly, it provides an efficient solution catering to government officials who previously sought link-shortening services from the private sector, transitioning to the enhanced ‘dg.th’ assistance. This transition reinforces the efficiency of information dissemination among agencies via online media. Secondly, it enhances public confidence in clicking on links, ensuring their safety.
The link-shortening system, ‘dg.th,’ is meticulously designed to deter inappropriate linking. Robust measures, including a wrong word filter, ensure that links containing sensitive terms undergo scrutiny and approval by agency administrators before creation. Furthermore, users are empowered to preview destination websites before navigating, allowing them to make informed decisions. Additionally, the system features a verification feature for destination files, minimising the risk of accessing malicious content.
The director of the domain company emphasised that the ‘dg.th’ link shortening system strategically aims to enhance the operational efficiency of government agencies. Its primary objective is to establish a seamless connection between agency information and public services through digital platforms, offering enhanced convenience.
Traditionally, agencies upload documents or service request forms on their websites or cloud platforms, which are then disseminated to the public through lengthy and intricate links. The emergence of publicly accessible shortened links or QR codes simplifies sharing but inadvertently exposes services to misuse, allowing malicious users to exploit these shortcuts for their gain. The inability to verify the destination of shortened links or QR codes creates an environment conducive to deception and damage.
The implementation of the ‘dg.th’ link shortening system effectively addresses these challenges. Not only does this innovative system provide a solution to the convenience-focused use of shortened links, but it also caters to the demand for easy sharing of concise links. Moreover, it significantly enhances the credibility and trustworthiness of shared links by offering an accountable and reliable source, fostering confidence among government service users in their digital interactions.
Dr Supoj noted that numerous ongoing scams are often triggered when users inadvertently click on forwarded or shared links distributed via SMS or social media, bypassing proper scrutiny. Utilising government agency-shortened links through dg.th safeguards against links created by malicious sources, fostering heightened public awareness and enhancing government agencies’ operational efficiency. The adoption of domain names like .th and .thai for websites or links further ensures verified owner identities, aligning with the approach of this innovative link-shortening initiative.
