Thailand to launch cyber-command unit for digital defence

Thailand is poised to bolster its cyber warfare capabilities with the establishment of a dedicated cyber-command unit by October. This initiative, revealed by Jirayu Huangsap, spokesman for Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang, aims to strengthen the country’s defence against emerging digital threats.

General Songwit Noonphakdi, commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTARF), has been tasked with creating the unit following a recent Defence Council meeting chaired by Sutin. The meeting addressed the growing threats posed by modern technology to security agencies globally and explored ways to enhance Thailand’s cyber defences.

The new RTARF cyber-command unit is expected to be operational in October, with support from state agencies across the three branches of the armed forces. The structure of the army’s cyber and digital technology units will be revised, including the addition of an electronic warfare division to the navy’s cyber centre.

The air force’s cyber centre will be transferred to the ministry’s Department of Information Technology and Communications. Additionally, a cyber defence academy will be established to train between 300 and 500 specialists annually.

The planned cyber-command unit will be led by a lieutenant general and staffed by personnel reassigned from the RTARF’s Royal Development Projects and Security Coordination Centre (RDPSCC), reported Bangkok Post.

“After the restructuring, the new chief of the RDPSCC will be a major general and the unit will be transferred to the RTARF’s Armed Forces Development Command.”

In related news, the Thai authorities arrested a 29 year old man in Nonthaburi for his involvement in an online gambling ring and for laundering over 5 million baht through multiple transactions.

The arrest was part of a larger crackdown on illegal online gambling activities facilitated by the website wtf55, which offered games such as Baccarat and Dragon Tiger.

In other news, Thailand’s digital economy and society (DES) minister, Prasert Jantararuangthong, revealed that despite efforts to curb cybercrime, the problem remains rampant with damages averaging 100 million baht daily.