Songpol said the National Economic and Social Advisory Council was now vetting the bill and that it would be two years before it was passed and enforced. This will allow relevant agencies to consider its negative repercussions, he said.

The current draft will cause chaos, because companies from small to huge have long been collecting data and using direct-marketing techniques like sending mail or e-mail to reach customers in their databases, he warned.

The draft is unclear and could be interpreted in many ways, he said.

He said the drafting of the privacy law began seven years ago by the National Electronics and Computer Technology Centre and the Office of the Official Commission under Government House. The two drafts were combined, and the previous government began considering the result, he said.

In addition to setting up a subcommittee to propose amendments, the association has also tried to publicise the potential effects of the bill on private companies. However, many companies still do not realise the possible impact, particularly credit-card operators, while others - such as Thai Airways International and those belonging to the Thai Direct Selling Association and the Marketing Association of Thailand - are seriously concerned, he said.

Nitida Asawanipont

The Nation