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Citizens group demands EC prosecution over data leak, wants barcodes destroyed

Citizens group demands EC prosecution over data leak, wants barcodes destroyed

Khaosod•Politics•1d ago

Reader Briefing

A citizens' group has filed a complaint against the Election Commission (EC) for allegedly leaking voter data through barcodes on ballots, demanding their immediate destruction.

  • •A former MP from Pathum Thani, Prasit Patamapadungsak, representing the People's Civic group, has petitioned the Personal Data Protection Committee (PDPC) to take legal action against the EC.
  • •The complaint alleges that barcodes on election ballots allow voter identification, compromising the secrecy and directness of elections.
  • •The group is urging the EC to destroy these barcodes and stems from potential legal violations under personal data protection laws.
  • •Legal actions are being sought against the EC for both administrative and criminal offenses related to the alleged data breach.

Overview

  • •On February 16, 2026, Prasit Patamapadungsak filed a complaint with the Personal Data Protection Committee (PDPC) demanding action against the Election Commission (EC).
  • •The complaint is due to the EC's alleged creation of election ballots with barcodes that can identify eligible voters, thereby compromising election secrecy.
  • •Prasit Patamapadungsak stated that the barcodes are unnecessary for vote counting and violate personal data protection laws, including sections 19, 22, 23, and 26.
  • •Legal proceedings are being pursued for criminal offenses, carrying a penalty of up to 6 months imprisonment and a fine of up to 500,000 THB, in order to protect political opinion data privacy.
  • •The group demands the permanent destruction or separation of barcodes from election ballots to prevent further data linkage.
  • •The EC's argument that data collection is part of election management and administration is contested, as it falls under executive rather than judicial proceedings, according to PCPA Section 4(4).
  • •The potential misuse of this data could lead to targeted vote-buying and professional disadvantages for civil servants who do not vote for a particular party.
  • •The group has also filed an appeal to the Administrative Court on February 15, 2026, citing five reasons against the EC's practices.

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Key Quotes

Prasit Patamapadungsak
"Therefore, I must ask the PDPC to verify whether the barcodes on the election ballots can indeed be traced back to eligible voters."
จึงต้องให้ สคส. ตรวจสอบว่าบาร์โค้ดที่บัตรเลือกตั้งนั้น ย้อนกลับไป ถึงผู้มีสิทธิเลือกตั้งได้จริงหรือไม่
Prasit Patamapadungsak
"Security must not come at the cost of violating citizens' fundamental rights."
ความปลอดภัยต้องไม่แลกมาด้วยการละเมิดสิทธิ์ ข้อมูลพื้นฐานของประชาชน
Prasit Patamapadungsak
"Polling booths should be the safest places, not spy cameras."
คูหาเลือกตั้งควรจะเป็นที่ปลอดภัยที่สุด ไม่ใช่เป็นกล้องสอดแนม

Key Entities

Organization

People's Civic Group(ปชน.)
A citizens' group advocating for data protection and election integrity.
Personal Data Protection Committee (PDPC)(สคส.)
The government body responsible for enforcing personal data protection laws in Thailand.
Election Commission (EC)(กกต.)ℹ️
The state electoral commission responsible for managing elections in Thailand.
Office of the Election Commission (EC)(สำนักงานคณะกรรมการการเลือกตั้ง (กกต.))ℹ️
The administrative body of the Election Commission of Thailand.
Office of the Personal Data Protection Committee (PDPC)(สำนักงานคณะกรรมการคุ้มครองข้อมูลส่วนบุคคล (สคส.))
The agency responsible for overseeing and enforcing the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA).
Administrative Court(ศาลปกครอง)ℹ️
A court that reviews the legality of administrative actions and decisions by government bodies in Thailand.

Person

Prasit Patamapadungsak(ประสิทธิ์ ปัทมผดุงศักดิ์)
Former MP candidate for Pathum Thani and a representative of the People's Civic Group who filed the complaint against the EC.

Law

Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA)(กฎหมายข้อมูลข่าวสารส่วนบุคคล)
The legal framework governing the collection, use, and disclosure of personal data in Thailand.