Digital Minister Warns Students, Parents Over OpenChat Bullying
Digital Economy and Society Minister Nan Bunyathida Somchai warned that students using LINE OpenChat to bully or doxx peers can be traced despite using avatar profiles, and parents may face legal liability under the Child Protection Act. The minister reported that most participants in these chat groups are primary and secondary students, and urged parents to monitor their children's online activity to prevent offenses such as defamation and bullying.
At 09:30 on November 10, 2026, at Government House, Ms. Nan Bunyathida Somchai, Minister of Digital Economy and Society (DE), gave an interview regarding LINE OpenChat groups where bullying and doxxing of personal information among students and youth have occurred. She stated that over the past 3-4 days, warnings about OpenChat issues had been reported in multiple provinces, and several students had messaged her personally. She therefore wished to alert parents and individuals in these chat groups. According to investigations, most participants are primary, lower secondary, and upper secondary students. The minister urged parents to provide information and check on their children, because although OpenChat allows avatar profiles, the accounts are linked to the users' own LINE accounts, making identities traceable. Offenses may include defamation and bullying. Most importantly, the Child Protection Act applies, and if investigations proceed, parents can also be held liable. She warned that such behavior may stem from peer pressure in large group chats, and emphasized that if legal cases arise, identities can be traced retroactively.
