Bangkok: Supachai Jaisamut is preparing to file a complaint with the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) against Mr. Prasert Chantharawong, the Minister of Digital Economy and Society, and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry. The complaint centers on allegations that they permitted a company linked to a known scammer to illicitly collect biometric data from over 1.2 million Thai citizens.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Supachai, a candidate for Member of Parliament from the Bhumjaithai Party, claims that Mr. Prasert and the Permanent Secretary failed to act upon critical information regarding the unauthorized extraction of iris data by a private company associated with Ben Smith, alleged to be a "global scammer." Supachai argues that this negligence mirrors the infamous rice pledging scheme case.
Mr. Supachai highlighted that in March 2024, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed swiftly between the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society and a Singaporean company affiliated with Ben Smith. The MOU was executed with unusual speed, with consultations sought from the Council of State, the Attorney General, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on March 25, 2024, and the MOU signed the following day, witnessed by Mr. Prasert.
He further detailed that during January-February 2025, TIDC Metaverse, a subsidiary of Ben Smith, sought approvals from agencies under the Ministry to initiate the World ID project, which involved exchanging iris scans for digital assets. However, the agencies did not approve due to data security concerns.
On June 11, 2025, it was discovered by the Office of the Personal Data Protection Commission that the iris scanning technology was being employed to collect data from over 1.2 million individuals. Despite this, Mr. Prasert failed to intervene or monitor the situation closely after being informed by the Permanent Secretary.
Mr. Supachai emphasized that this oversight endangers sensitive personal data of Thai citizens, posing risks of misuse such as identity theft or cybercrime. He pointed out that this constitutes a breach of duty under Section 157 of the Criminal Code and the Anti-Corruption Act.
Drawing parallels to the rice pledging scheme case, Mr. Supachai urged for a thorough investigation and announced his intention to file a formal complaint with the DSI and NACC to hold Mr. Prasert and the Permanent Secretary accountable for their actions.