Thailand Advances Co-Regulation of Digital Platforms Through DPS Trust Every Click Initiative

Thailand’s Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) is expanding efforts to strengthen trust in digital platform services through its DPS TRUST EVERY CLICK campaign. The initiative brings together government regulators, digital platform providers, consumer groups and academic stakeholders to explore practical approaches to platform governance. Two public discussion forums scheduled for 1 April will examine self-regulation and platform fee transparency, aiming to balance innovation and business growth with stronger consumer protection in Thailand’s digital economy.

According to the official announcement from ETDA, the campaign reflects growing attention to trust as a foundation of digital platform ecosystems. As online services increasingly shape economic activity and everyday life, issues such as service transparency, terms of use and fair fee structures have become central policy concerns.

Collaborative Governance for Digital Platforms

ETDA, which operates under Thailand’s Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, is responsible for overseeing digital platform services through a co-regulation approach. This model emphasises shared responsibility between regulators, industry and users in setting standards and ensuring accountability.

The DPS TRUST EVERY CLICK campaign, now entering its second year, aims to reinforce this collaborative approach. By engaging platform providers, consumer organisations and public authorities, the initiative seeks to develop rules and service standards that are transparent, fair and capable of being monitored effectively.

Participating organisations include the Trade Competition Commission of Thailand, the Office of the Consumer Protection Board, the Thailand Consumers Council and the Thai Digital Platform Trade Association, alongside representatives from digital platform businesses.

Two Public Forums on Platform Governance

The initiative will feature two discussion forums designed to gather perspectives from across the ecosystem and identify practical approaches to improving digital platform oversight.

• Self-regulation mechanisms: The morning session, organised by the Thai Digital Platform Trade Association, will explore how platforms can design internal governance frameworks that align with legal requirements and recognised standards.
• Platform fee transparency: The afternoon session, led by ETDA together with consumer protection bodies, will examine how service fees are structured and communicated to users.

The second session will also introduce a new ETDA guidance document focused on transparency and fairness in digital platform fee structures. The guidance outlines expectations for pricing governance, disclosure practices and the formulation of platform terms and conditions.

Balancing Innovation and Consumer Protection

ETDA states that the forums are intended not only to clarify policy directions but also to provide a platform for stakeholders to co-design practical governance approaches. The aim is to ensure that regulatory measures support both business innovation and effective consumer safeguards.

The initiative aligns with broader national efforts to strengthen trust and accountability across online ecosystems, including work to improve transparency and information integrity on digital platforms, as explored in Thailand’s initiatives to strengthen information integrity across digital platforms.

The discussions will be accessible to digital platform operators, stakeholders and members of the public. The afternoon session will be broadcast live via the ETDA Thailand Facebook page, allowing wider participation in the dialogue on the future governance of digital services in the country.