Bangkok: No victims or illegal acts have been found in the case of iris scanning for money. Deputy Government Spokesperson Anukul Prueksanusak revealed that the latest investigation has not found any victims or illegal activities in the case of iris scanning for money, and warns the public not to be careless.

According to Thai News Agency, the Consumer Council of Thailand reported that various locations in Thailand have been incentivizing people to scan their iris for 500-1,000 baht, claiming to exchange for cryptocurrency. Those who scan their iris will receive a 1,000 baht reward within 24 hours, while those who refer members will receive 500 baht per person, up to a maximum of 10.

The latest developments include the Personal Data Protection Office (PDPC), which is conducting an investigation by the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD). Initial investigations have found that the current operations of the service provider are legal and similar to those in many countries. Coordination has been established with the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society and other agencies to develop measures to control sensitive data. No victims or illegal acts have been found. If any data breaches or misuse are found, immediate legal action will be taken.

Mr. Anukul stated that to raise awareness of the importance of proper security, the government emphasizes that biometric data is considered the highest level of personal data. Consent to collect or scan data should therefore be carefully considered for the following risks: data leakage, identity theft, and the creation of deepfakes. Data leakage could lead to misuse by hackers, identity theft could result in financial impersonation, and deepfakes could be used for sophisticated cybercrimes.