Thai law for Edtech and online learning

The rules edtech companies most often have to examine are: Personal Data Protection Act; Digital platform notification (ETDA); Payment Systems Act (Bank of Thailand). Which apply depends on the actual model.

If the business offers goods or services to people in Thailand, paid or free, or monitors their behaviour there, even from outside Thailand. An offshore controller generally needs a representative in Thailand. (PDPA B.E. 2562, ss. 5, 37(5), 38).

If the service connects businesses, consumers or users for electronic transactions and passes THB 50 million a year platform revenue in Thailand (juristic person) or 5,000 monthly Thai users; platforms below the thresholds give a shorter notification. Platforms outside Thailand serving Thai users are covered. (Royal Decree on Digital Platform Services B.E. 2565, ss. 3, 8, 9, 10).

If the business issues e-money or e-wallets, or accepts payments electronically on behalf of merchants, it may need a licence or registration; only a limited or public limited company may hold one, subject to exemptions such as accepting payments for its own business. (Payment Systems Act B.E. 2560, ss. 16, 17; Ministry of Finance notification of 17 April 2018, cl. 2.2, 2.3).