Thailand to require identity checks for online advertisers from 1 November

Social media service providers accepting payment for advertisements targeting audiences in Thailand will have to verify advertisers’ identities before publishing ads from 1 November 2026, under measures reported by the Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA).

The requirements were published in the Royal Gazette on 5 May under an announcement by the Electronic Transactions Commission (ETC), issued under the Emergency Decree on Measures to Prevent and Suppress Technology Crimes. They will take effect 180 days after publication.

Identity checks may involve government-issued documents and confirmation that the person presenting them is the genuine holder, including facial comparison. Platforms may also use a digital identity-verification system that meets ETC standards.

Advertisers will not necessarily have to repeat the process for every campaign. The announcement says a new check is not required when the advertiser’s identity was verified within the previous year.

Platforms must retain information identifying advertisers from the start of an advertising period until at least 90 days after the service ends. Required records include the name of an individual or legal entity, the person acting for a legal entity, identification or proof of legal-entity status, and contact details such as an address and telephone number. If another person pays for the advertising, the platform must also collect information about the payer.

The ETC said the measures are intended to ensure social media providers can prevent technology-related crimes and help trace people responsible for fraud and other offences carried out online. The announcement was signed by ETC chairwoman Wilawan Mangkalathanakul and dated 23 April 2026.