Thai Prime Minister Calls on ASEAN to Cooperate Against Online Fraud

Thailand's Prime Minister has highlighted the issue of combating online fraud in ASEAN after she herself was recently nearly tricked into transferring money.

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said she was almost tricked into transferring money - Photo: REUTERS

Speaking at the ASEAN Digital Ministers Meeting on January 16, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra called on regional countries to work together to develop a sustainable digital economy that benefits all sectors.

The Nation newspaper quoted the Thai leader as stating three focuses of ASEAN's digital cooperation.

The primary focus is on combating online fraud. Ms. Paetongtarn said online fraud is a significant threat to the public and regional cooperation is needed to ensure digital safety and enhance public trust in the online sector.

On tackling misinformation that erodes social trust, the Thai Prime Minister suggested that ASEAN develop strong mechanisms to monitor and manage online content, while prioritizing improving digital literacy among the public.

Finally, in harnessing artificial intelligence (AI), AI technology needs to be used responsibly and comprehensively.

According to Ms. Paetongtarn, close cooperation among ASEAN countries can turn the crisis into an opportunity for the region, ensuring that no member country is left behind in the digital transformation process.

A day earlier, the Thai prime minister revealed that she herself had almost fallen victim to an online scam. Ms. Paetongtarn said a scammer used AI-generated voice technology to impersonate an ASEAN leader and sent her a voice message asking for donations to an unnamed country.

She soon became suspicious when she received a text message asking her to transfer money to a bank account outside Thailand. “I knew it was a scam when I saw the message,” she said.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/thu-tuong-thai-lan-keu-goi-asean-hop-tac-chong-lua-dao-truc-tuyen-20250116221859066.htm