PUBLISHED : 13 Aug 2026 at 08:39
Thailand will push for child protection settings to be enabled by default on new digital devices, aiming to shield young users from harmful online content without any parental setup required.
Digital Economy and Society Minister Chaichanok Chidchob said on Wednesday the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) had been working with major technology companies on child safety, scams, fake news and deepfakes.
He said talks with Apple had resulted in an agreement to adjust its child protection policy so that newly released smartphones would have child protection mode activated by default from the factory, removing the need for parents to configure the settings themselves.
Other technology platforms are still in talks, he said.
Mr Chaichanok said default protection would not completely prevent children from accessing restricted material, as they could potentially use a parent’s account or bypass the controls. However, having safeguards activated from the outset would provide an important first layer of protection.
His comments followed questions about online material accessed by a 14-year-old student involved in a fatal shooting at Debsirin Nonthaburi School, killing 9 including himself and injuring 21 others on Aug 7.
Police found the material had been viewed through regular YouTube searches and consisted of general documentaries, rather than dark web content or explicitly violent material, the minister said.
The minister said such content could not simply be blocked or prohibited, but the government was seeking broader measures to improve online safety for children.
The NBTC is also working with the gaming industry after investigators found the student had created a virtual shop selling simulated firearms in a game.
Rather than banning or blocking games, the approach would involve monitoring user behaviour and identifying accounts showing particular interest in weapons, allowing relevant agencies to assess potential risks.
Police have identified several possible factors linked to the shooting, including family circumstances, academic difficulties, peer relationships, bullying and exposure to violent online content.
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