Thailand to regulate digital platform service businesses

• Oct 26, 2021

The cabinet on Monday approved a draft decree to regulate digital platform service businesses to maintain financial and commercial stability and to prevent damage to the public, government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said.

Such businesses, both in and outside of Thailand, will need to notify the government before operating, he said in a statement.

The law will apply to various digital platform services including online marketplaces, social commerce, food delivery, space sharing, ride/car sharing and online search engines, he said.

“They are all increasingly important to the economy and society, so there is a need to oversee them,” Mr Thanakorn said.

Last month, the government said it would start collecting value-added tax (VAT) from foreign technology companies including Facebook and Google, intermediaries such as ride-hailing app Grab and streaming services such as Netflix.

Source: https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2203835/thailand-to-regulate-digital-platform-service-businesses