BANGKOK, Thailand – The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES) is planning to review nearly 30,000 government information systems and propose mandatory multi-factor authentication (MFA) across state agencies amid concerns over the exposure of citizens’ personal data. DES Minister Chaichanok Chidchob said an examination by the National Cyber Security Agency found over 50 billion user records in leaked datasets worldwide, including more than 200 million records associated with Thailand. The figures cover multiple accounts and breaches occurring at different times, with potential sources spread across nearly 30,000 government systems and more than 35,000 private-sector systems.
The DES plans to review government systems within about 15 days to determine which remain active and which should be shut down, while identifying potential security vulnerabilities. The ministry will also ask the Cabinet to require state agencies to change system usernames and passwords and adopt MFA, adding another layer of protection when login credentials are compromised. For longer-term data protection, authorities plan to improve cybersecurity infrastructure and identity authentication standards while continuing investigations into the illicit trade and use of personal information. Government agencies are also working with the private sector and civil society to identify potential sources of data exposure, address vulnerabilities, and reduce the risk of further breaches. (NNT)
