Digital Platforms And Thailand’s Draft Direct Sales And Direct Marketing Act Amendment

Digital platform and e-commerce businesses operating in Thailand should take note of Thailand’s efforts to modernize its direct sales and direct marketing framework, which recently became apparent when the Office of the Consumer Protection Board released for public comment a draft amendment to the Direct Sales and Direct Marketing Act B.E. 2545 (2002). The proposed amendment contains several notable implications for digital platforms and e-commerce.

Key elements of the proposed framework are summarized below.

Digital Platforms Brought Within Scope

The draft amendment’s definitions of “direct sales” and “direct marketing” are expanded to cover sales conducted electronically and through digital platforms. A new term, “digital platform service,” covers any electronic intermediary service connecting operators, consumers, or users to facilitate electronic transactions, even if a fee is not charged.