Bangkok: The Prime Minister has stressed the urgent need to identify the source of a recent personal data leak and to enhance the security measures for government data across the system. According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Ratchada Thanadirek, spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, revealed that Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has directed all relevant agencies to promptly investigate the dissemination of personal images and information through social media. An internal investigation committee has been established to pinpoint the cause and those responsible for the leak. Ms. Ratchada highlighted the importance of using this incident as a catalyst to elevate the data security standards across the entire government system.
Ms. Ratchada further relayed that the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society's initial investigations have not detected any direct breaches of government databases, and related access points have been closed. The ministry is expediting digital forensics investigations to uncover the cause and identify the individuals involved. Concurrently, the Ministry of Transport has taken precautionary measures by suspending suspicious user accounts, mandating password changes for all agencies linked to the Department of Land Transport, and forwarding relevant information to the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau for further examination.
In addition, the Ministry of Interior and the Department of Provincial Administration are probing the access routes to the data, with the Department of Provincial Administration affirming that no data leak has been observed from the main database of the civil registration system. The National Cyber Security Commission (NCSC) is swiftly inspecting and evaluating information systems in approximately 300 government departments nationwide, with a 30-day deadline. The NCSC is also advocating for the implementation of multi-factor authentication (MFA) across all agencies to fortify the security of government data and mitigate the risk of unauthorized access.
Ms. Rachada also emphasized the government's commitment to transparency and accountability, stating that they will not conceal problems or shirk responsibility before the investigation concludes. The government is poised to integrate valuable suggestions into its operations, including closing loopholes, verifying access rights, protecting honest whistleblowers, and assessing the effectiveness of the cybersecurity budget, to ensure comprehensive protection for citizens.