Bank of Thailand and AIS Forge Strategic Alliance to Bolster National Cybersecurity and Financial Literacy Amidst Rising Digital Threats
Bangkok, Thailand – In a significant move to safeguard Thailand’s digital landscape, the Bank of Thailand (BOT), the nation’s central bank and financial regulator, has announced a strategic partnership with Advanced Info Service Public Company Limited (AIS), the country’s foremost digital network provider. This collaboration launches a critical mission aimed at building robust immunity against the escalating wave of online scams and cyber threats targeting the Thai public, focusing particularly on enhancing digital literacy and financial threat awareness to ensure safer online interactions and financial transactions for all citizens.
The announcement comes during Thailand’s designated “Year of Cybersecurity,” underscoring the urgency and national importance of addressing the vulnerabilities that accompany rapid digitalization. As financial services increasingly migrate online and digital platforms become central to daily life, the avenues for cybercriminals and fraudsters have multiplied, posing significant risks to individuals and the national economy. Recognizing this challenge, the BOT and AIS are embarking on a proactive, multi-faceted strategy designed not just to react to threats, but to preemptively equip the population with the knowledge and tools needed for self-protection.
A cornerstone of this initiative is a dedicated focus on empowering the younger generation. The partnership highlights the critical role of youth in building a resilient digital society. Specifically, the collaboration engages student groups, notably the Color Guard organizations from prestigious institutions like Chulalongkorn University and Thammasat University. This engagement forms the basis of the “CU TU Cyberguard” project, an innovative program designed to harness the energy, digital nativity, and community connections of young people.
The project aims to train these students in essential digital and financial threat awareness skills, transforming them into knowledgeable ambassadors. These newly empowered youth leaders will then be mobilized to disseminate vital cybersecurity knowledge and promote principles of digital wellness within their communities, extending the initiative’s reach across diverse regions of the country.
The “CU TU Cyberguard” project is set to commence with a pilot program strategically located at Klongyaiwittayakom School in the Khlong Yai District of Trat Province. This initial phase will serve as a model for future rollouts, allowing the partners to refine the approach and measure its effectiveness in a real-world community setting. The choice of involving student groups reflects a strategic understanding that peer-to-peer education and youth leadership can be powerful catalysts for behavioural change, particularly concerning digital habits and security consciousness.
Beyond the youth-focused component, the BOT-AIS partnership encompasses a broader public awareness campaign. The collaborators commit to actively communicating and engaging with the general public, fostering both heightened self-awareness of potential risks and practical self-protection strategies against cyber threats. A key element of this outreach involves the creation and dissemination of high-quality, accessible educational content focused on cybersecurity.
This content, covering safe digital practices and secure usage of online financial services, will be distributed strategically through popular social media channels and dedicated online learning platforms, ensuring it reaches a wide and diverse audience across Thailand. The goal is to make cybersecurity knowledge readily available and easily digestible for everyone, regardless of their technical background.
This significant undertaking is further bolstered by the support of other crucial national bodies, including the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) and the National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA). The involvement of these key organizations highlights a unified national front against cybercrime and underscores the collaborative spirit required to tackle such complex, pervasive issues. Together, the BOT, AIS, CCIB, and NCSA reaffirm a shared commitment to cultivating a safe, secure, and sustainable digital society for the benefit of all Thai people.
Chayawadee Chai-anant, Assistant Governor of the Corporate Relations Group at the Bank of Thailand, elaborated on the strategic importance of this partnership. “This collaboration marks another important step in expanding the Bank of Thailand’s external network of partnerships to build stronger immunity against financial fraud among the wider public,” she stated. “It reinforces our commitment to tackling financial crime in a comprehensive manner.
Beyond implementing our own measures and working closely with financial institutions and relevant organizations, this initiative reflects our dedication to raising awareness and enhancing financial fraud literacy.” Ms. Chayawadee expressed optimism about the collaboration’s impact, adding, “We hope that this joint effort between the two organizations will play a key role in helping the public stay alert to the ever-evolving threats of financial fraud—ultimately creating long-term protection and resilience against becoming victims.”
Echoing this sentiment and highlighting AIS’s ongoing commitment to digital safety, Saichon Submakudom, Head of Public Relations and Business Relations at AIS, commented on the synergy of the partnership. “AIS has continuously positioned itself as a key driver in mobilizing efforts to combat cyber threats, building a strong network of collaboration within society,” Saichon remarked.
She detailed AIS’s existing multi-pronged approach, which includes “supporting government agencies in tracking, monitoring, and taking decisive legal action against cybercriminals; developing technological tools that empower customers and the public to protect themselves; and promoting digital literacy through initiatives such as the ‘Aunjai Cyber’ project, which helps raise awareness of online threats and scams.”
Regarding the new collaboration, Saichon added, “This collaboration with the Bank of Thailand marks another important step forward in strengthening Digital Wellness and Financial Literacy across the nation, while reinforcing our cybersecurity defense. We believe that the joint commitment between our two organizations will effectively align our efforts, achieve our shared goals, and ultimately help Thai people use digital technology safely—without falling victim to online fraud.”
The partnership leverages the unique strengths of both organizations. The Bank of Thailand brings its regulatory authority, deep understanding of the financial system and its vulnerabilities, and established channels for communicating with financial institutions and the public on financial matters.
AIS, as a leading Cognitive Tech-Co, contributes its vast technological infrastructure, extensive customer reach (over 50.8 million combined subscribers across mobile and broadband as of December 2024), expertise in digital service delivery, and established programs like ‘Aunjai Cyber’ focused on digital citizenship. This combination of financial regulatory insight and telecommunications prowess creates a powerful force for driving national cybersecurity awareness and capability building.
The focus on both cybersecurity awareness and financial literacy is particularly pertinent. Many online scams directly target financial assets, exploiting vulnerabilities in users’ understanding of both technology and financial processes. By tackling these two areas concurrently, the BOT-AIS initiative aims to provide a more holistic defense mechanism for the public, empowering them to recognize threats ranging from phishing attacks and malware to investment scams and fraudulent payment requests. The concept of “Digital Wellness,” as mentioned by AIS, extends beyond just security, encompassing responsible and healthy engagement with the digital world, which aligns perfectly with the goal of creating knowledgeable and resilient digital citizens.
As Thailand continues its journey of digital transformation, initiatives like this BOT-AIS partnership are crucial. They represent a necessary investment in the human element of cybersecurity – recognizing that technology and regulation alone are insufficient without an informed and vigilant populace. By empowering individuals, especially the youth, with the knowledge to navigate the digital world safely and equipping them with financial literacy skills, this collaboration lays the groundwork for a more secure and prosperous digital future for the nation. The long-term success will depend on sustained effort, continuous adaptation to evolving threats, and the active participation of the communities targeted by these educational outreach programs.
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