Call for tech defences to protect sovereignty

Thailand must urgently strengthen its "communication sovereignty" to protect national interests in an increasingly borderless digital environment dominated by global technology platforms and emerging low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite networks, according to AM Thanapant Raicharoen, commissioner of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC).

"Threats to national security have evolved far beyond conventional military confrontations," he said, adding that cybercrime, call centre scams, and online fraud continue to inflict substantial economic damage.

"Thailand now faces a more subtle but potentially far-reaching challenge: the erosion of communication sovereignty."

Communication sovereignty refers to the ability of a nation and its citizens to control, govern and protect their communication systems, information flows and digital infrastructure from external influence or domination.

AM Thanapant said that in the digital era, communication sovereignty has become as strategically important as territorial sovereignty was in previous generations.

As over-the-top (OTT) platforms, artificial intelligence (AI) and LEO satellite networks continue to transform the communications landscape, communication sovereignty is rapidly emerging as one of the defining telecom and national security challenges confronting Thailand in the coming decade, he said.

DIGITAL BORDERS

According to AM Thanapant, communication sovereignty encompasses four critical dimensions.

The first is infrastructure sovereignty, which concerns a country's ability to oversee and maintain control over strategic telecommunications assets, including submarine cables, mobile networks, satellite systems, cloud infrastructure and domestic data centres.

As global technology companies increasingly expand beyond online platforms into connectivity services, this issue is becoming more pressing.

Particular attention is being paid to the rapid development of direct-to-consumer broadband services delivered through LEO satellite constellations.

Unlike traditional telecommunications models, these networks can provide internet access directly to end users without relying extensively on local terrestrial infrastructure or domestic service providers.

"If global operators are able to provide end-to-end communications services directly to consumers, countries may gradually lose influence over key layers of their digital ecosystem," AM Thanapant noted.

The second dimension is data sovereignty.

Data has emerged as a strategic national asset comparable to energy resources in previous industrial eras. Massive volumes of personal, behavioural and economic data generated by Thai users are increasingly stored and processed on infrastructure controlled by multinational tech corporations.

Without appropriate safeguards, Thailand risks losing control over how such data is collected, utilised and monetised, AM Thanapant said.

The third dimension is regulatory sovereignty.

He said governments must retain the ability to enforce national laws and regulations in the digital environment, including measures addressing illegal content, misinformation, cybercrime and platform accountability.

Regulators worldwide are struggling to overcome jurisdictional limitations when dealing with global OTT platforms whose operations often extend beyond national legal frameworks.

The challenge for policymakers is to establish effective regulatory mechanisms that preserve public interests while maintaining an open and competitive digital economy.

The fourth dimension concerns content and cultural sovereignty.

As AI increasingly powers recommendation systems and content-distribution algorithms, global digital platforms are exerting unprecedented influence over how information is consumed, interpreted and shared.

Such influence extends beyond commerce and entertainment, potentially affecting public opinion, cultural values and political discourse.

"Today's algorithms do not merely determine what people watch. They increasingly shape what people know, what they believe and, ultimately, how they think," AM Thanapant said.

He said Thailand remains heavily dependent on foreign technology ecosystems, ranging from social media and streaming platforms to cloud services and emerging satellite communications networks.

The country's reliance on foreign-controlled platforms, infrastructure and digital services could expose it to external influence, data leakage and diminished regulatory authority, he added.

STRATEGIC RESPONSE

AM Thanapant said there are three priorities Thailand should adopt, with the first accelerating the development of domestic digital capabilities in order to reduce excessive dependence on foreign providers.

Secondly, regulators should adopt proactive and appropriate governance frameworks for OTT platforms and emerging digital services.

Finally, Thailand should deepen regional cooperation to enhance collective bargaining power when engaging with global technology companies and transnational digital service providers, said AM Thanapant.

"The communication sovereignty should not be interpreted as digital isolationism, but rather as ensuring Thailand maintains sufficient strategic autonomy to protect national interests in a highly interconnected world," he said.

AM Thanapant says Thailand remains dependent on foreign technology systems.