Threat of NACC probe into DES Ministry’s ‘TH-AI Passport’ project

The House committee studying budgeting and following-up on budget management has threatened to ask the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to investigate the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES) if it goes ahead with implementing the controversial ‘TH-AI Passport’ project.

The committee’s chairperson, Rukchanok Srinork of the People’s party, has warned that the committee would submit a petition to the NACC if the DES Ministry starts the registration process to allow the public to apply for free use of AI technology as a tool to improve their studying, in case of a student, to improve their work performance, in case of a working person, or to improve their competitiveness in the digital economy.

Rukchanok said that the committee’s stance on the ‘TH-AI Passport’ project remains unchanged. The project should be scrapped, which would mean that the 1.6 billion baht procurement contract, between the DES Ministry and a group of bidders which won the contracts to provide the technology to the ministry and to organise training, would also need to be revoked.

Under the project, the DES Ministry envisages educating five million Thais initially, aged 15 and above, on generative AI technology and providing free access to the technology to help improve their skills and efficiency in their studies or careers.

According to the DES Ministry, Thailand lags behind some of its regional peers in AI literacy, with only 10.7% of its population knowing how to use the technology compared to 60.9% in Singapore and 23.5% in Vietnam. The ministry aims to increase AI literacy in the country to 23% of its population.

The People’s party MP alleges that a recent forum, organised by the DES Ministry for stakeholders to express their views on the ‘TH-AI Passport’ project, was stage-managed because several participants were seen arriving and leaving the forum in chartered passenger vans.

She suggested that someone checks the list of the participants, as to whether they are connected with the companies that won the supply bids.

Since the project was not screened by the House, she suggests that it be scrapped and the DES Ministry pays a penalty to the successful bidders.

If the ministry really wants to revive the project, it should propose it through the proper channels, she added.