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Somputhum Accuses EC of Data Leak Via Ballot Barcodes, Seeks PDPC Action

Somputhum Accuses EC of Data Leak Via Ballot Barcodes, Seeks PDPC Action

MGR Online•Politics•1d ago

Reader Briefing

A parliamentary candidate is demanding the Election Commission be held accountable by the Personal Data Protection Committee for allegedly leaking voter information through barcodes on ballots.

  • •A candidate from the People's Party in Pathum Thani has petitioned the Personal Data Protection Committee (PDPC) against the Election Commission (EC).
  • •The complaint alleges that barcodes on election ballots allow tracing individual voters, violating personal data protection laws.
  • •The candidate is calling for the destruction of the barcodes and legal action against the EC for data collection and potential dissemination.
  • •The petition cites violations of Sections 19, 22, 23, and 26 of the Personal Data Protection Act, including criminal charges for collecting political opinions without consent.

Overview

  • •On February 16, Prasit Patamapadungsakk, a candidate for MP in Pathum Thani for the People's Party, filed a complaint with the Personal Data Protection Committee (PDPC).
  • •The complaint was filed against the Election Commission (EC) due to the attachment of barcodes on election ballots, which allegedly allows tracing voters and leaks personal information.
  • •Prasit Patamapadungsakk stated that the barcodes enable tracing who cast a vote, considering it a violation of Sections 19 and 22 of the Data Protection Act which prohibits unnecessary data collection and unauthorized consent.
  • •Prasit Patamapadungsakk emphasized that collecting political opinions without consent is a violation of Section 26, carrying potential criminal penalties.
  • •Prasit Patamapadungsakk requested the PDPC to investigate whether the barcodes on the ballots can indeed be traced back to individual voters, citing the EC's own statements as evidence.
  • •Prasit Patamapadungsakk demanded the permanent destruction of the barcodes or the separation of ballot stubs and barcodes to prevent further data linkage.
  • •Prasit Patamapadungsakk argued that while the EC claims authority to collect data for election administration, using barcodes for such purposes falls under administrative management, not judicial proceedings.
  • •Prasit Patamapadungsakk warned that leaked voter data could be used by political parties for targeted campaigning, potentially influencing election outcomes and impacting the careers of public officials who do not align with certain parties.

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Key Quotes

Prasit Patamapadungsakk
"Attaching barcodes to election ballots allows tracing who marked the ballot, making it traceable nationwide, which is a violation under Section 19."
การติดบาร์โค้ดบนบัตรเลือกตั้ง ทำให้สามารถ ค้นไปถึงคนที่กาบัตรว่าคือใคร สามารถติดตามได้ ทั่วประเทศไทยถือเป็นความผิดตามมาตรา 19
Prasit Patamapadungsakk
"Accessing political opinions is extremely dangerous."
การไปล้วงความคิดเห็นทางการเมืองถือเป็นเรื่องอันตรายมาก
Prasit Patamapadungsakk
"Saying it's useless, make polling booths safe, not spy cameras."
ลั่นไม่มีประโยชน์ ทำคูหาเลือกตั้งให้ปลอดภัยไม่ใช่กล้องสอดแนม

Key Entities

Place

Somputhum(ส้มปทุมฯ)
The province from which the candidate is running for MP.

Organization

Personal Data Protection Committee(กก.คุ้มครองขู้อมูลฯ)ℹ️
The regulatory body petitioned by the candidate concerning data privacy violations.
Election Commission(กกต.)ℹ️
The government body accused of leaking voter information through barcodes on election ballots.
PDPC (Personal Data Protection Committee)(สคส.)ℹ️
The abbreviation used for the Personal Data Protection Committee in the article.
People's Party(พรรคประชาชน)
The political party to which the complaining candidate, Prasit Patamapadungsakk, belongs.

Person

Prasit Patamapadungsakk(นายประสิทธิ์ ปัทมผดุงศักดิ์)
A candidate for MP from Pathum Thani, representing the People's Party, who filed a complaint against the Election Commission.

Law

Section 19(มาตรา 19)
A section of the law cited as being violated by the collection of personal data without consent.
Section 22(มาตรา 22)
A section of the law cited concerning the necessity of collecting only essential personal data.
Section 23(มาตรา 23)
A section of the law cited regarding the requirement to inform individuals before collecting their personal data.
Section 26(มาตรา 26)
A section of the law cited as being violated by the collection of political opinions without consent.
PDPAℹ️
Abbreviation for the Personal Data Protection Act, referenced in the context of exemptions for data collection by parliamentary bodies.

Timeline

February 16(16 ก.พ.)
The date on which the candidate filed a complaint with the PDPC.
February 15(15 ก.พ.)
The date on which the candidate had previously filed a complaint with the Administrative Court.