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19 Points Question TH-AI Passport Launch: Ex-IT Subcomm Member

19 Points Question TH-AI Passport Launch: Ex-IT Subcomm Member

Matichon•Politics•1d ago

Reader Briefing

Former IT subcommittee member highlights 19 critical questions and alleged coincidences surrounding the launch of the TH-AI Passport project.

  • •A former IT subcommittee member, Theerachart Kortalang, has raised 19 points of concern regarding the government's TH-AI Passport project.
  • •Concerns include the project's budget, user capacity, data privacy, and the procurement process, particularly its timing after parliament dissolution.
  • •The former official suggests a pattern of "coincidence plus" involving the same groups in various government projects, questioning transparency and procurement choices.

Overview

  • •The TH-AI Passport project was initiated by the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society.
  • •The project has a budget of 1,621 million THB, intended for 5 million Thai citizens.
  • •The system can only handle 139 concurrent users per second (500,000 per hour).
  • •Users must register with their real names via ThaiD, potentially allowing resale of accounts.
  • •The project's TOR states that all searches are individually monitored, raising privacy concerns.
  • •A government spokesperson claimed the project involves purchasing infrastructure, but it is a one-year lease.
  • •The project was pushed during the New Year period while the minister was acting minister after parliament dissolution.
  • •Theerachart Kortalang questions the procurement process and asks how many similar projects exist and how transparency can be improved.

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Source: Matichon (Original)

Key Quotes

Theerachart Kortalang
"We also confirm time is limited, agree it must be rushed but not by blindly rushing into such a project."
พวกเราก็ยืนยันเวลามีจำกัด เห็นด้วยต้องรีบแต่ไม่ใช่มึนโครงการแบบนี้
Theerachart Kortalang
"The minister insists we bought it 20 times cheaper than Singapore, Thai government is skilled, reduced by 95%."
รมต.ยืนยันเราซื้อถูกกว่าสิงค์โปร์ 20 เท่า รัฐบาลไทยเก่ง ลดได้ 95%
Theerachart Kortalang
"We want the minister to calm down and think if they've ever negotiated a 95% discount on anything."
พวกเราอยากให้ รมต ตั้งสติ แล้วคิดว่าเคยต่อราคาอะไรได้ 95% มั้ย

Key Entities

Person

Ms. Rakchanoak Srinok(น.ส.รักชนก ศรีนอก)
Member of Parliament for the Pheu Thai Party who criticized the TH-AI Passport project.
Theerachart Kortalang(นายธีระชาติ ก่อตระกูล)
Former IT subcommittee member for Social Security and a Pheu Thai Party list MP candidate who summarized concerns about the TH-AI Passport project.

Organization

Pheu Thai Party(พรรคประชาชน)ℹ️
The political party of Ms. Rakchanoak Srinok and Theerachart Kortalang.
Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DE)(กระทรวงดิจิทัลเพื่อเศรษฐกิจและสังคม (ดีอี))ℹ️
The government ministry responsible for the TH-AI Passport project.
Committee(กมธ.)
A parliamentary committee that received briefings on the TH-AI Passport project.
Ministry of Labor(กระทรวงแรงงาน)ℹ️
A ministry mentioned due to its connection with a group that also received contracts for the TH-AI Passport project.

Law

TH-AI Passport
A government project involving AI technology, criticized for its procurement and privacy implications.
ThaiD
A digital identity verification system required for registration in the TH-AI Passport project.