Bangkok: The People's Party has issued a clarification regarding its application process for Laser IDs, asserting that all procedures were conducted legally and with the consent of all involved members. The party emphasized that it has never stored Laser ID data and is working on enhancing its registration system until a direct database connection with the Department of Provincial Administration is established.
According to Thai News Agency, the People's Party's statement highlights several key points in their approach to handling Laser IDs during the identity verification process for party membership. Firstly, the party confirmed that it has adhered to all necessary legal steps, ensuring the protection of personal data rights and security. Political parties, they emphasized, must have rigorous membership application processes to prevent fraudulent registrations. This includes verifying that individuals meet all membership qualifications and are applying in person, rather than through identity theft.
The statement further clarified that requesting Laser ID verification is a common practice in identity verification and is legally permissible, provided that consent is obtained. This practice is particularly prevalent in high-accuracy required transactions, such as those conducted via mobile banking applications. While the law does not mandate all parties to use Laser ID verification, those opting to do so do not breach any laws, including the PDPA, as long as consent is acquired.
Moreover, the necessity of a permit from the Department of Provincial Administration pertains to verifying the applicant's Laser ID against its database, not merely requesting it. The People's Party has already initiated the process to connect with the department's system, with only a few steps pending completion. This system connection mirrors that of the former Future Forward Party and the Move Forward Party, the latter of which was dissolved. Once completed, the verification process will fully integrate with the department's systems.
The People's Party also assured that neither it nor its predecessors have ever recorded citizens' Laser ID data. Instead, they have acted as conduits for transmitting this information for verification purposes against the Department of Provincial Administration's records. Despite the incomplete system connection preventing real-time verification, the party insists no Laser ID data is being recorded or used otherwise.
Acknowledging public concerns, the People's Party has temporarily removed the Laser ID entry requirement from its membership application process until full permission for data connection is granted. The party has adjusted its registration procedures accordingly, anticipating that the final steps to verify national identification card status via API will be completed shortly.