Thailand Partners with Apple on Child Online Safety Controls

Thailand's Social Development Ministry has partnered with Apple to promote child protection systems that control content by age and limit screen time without harming children's development or fostering undesirable habits.

On August 12, Chaninan Rungthanakiart, advisor to the Social Development and Human Security Ministry, revealed that he was tasked by Social Development Minister Nikorn Somklaeng to meet and discuss policy matters with Mike Orgill, Apple's Asia-Pacific Regional Managing Director, and his team regarding online safety for children and youth and how to use devices to promote human capital development.

Chaninan stated that the meeting unanimously agreed to promote the Child Protection system currently under development as a default device setting as quickly as possible to serve as a parental control system. The system will set age-appropriate content limits, include detection and blurring of nude images, violence, and graphic content, alert parents when inappropriate content is accessed, and require parental approval before viewing.

Chaninan emphasized the Social Development Ministry's ongoing work to establish screen time guidelines for children to educate the public, especially parents, about appropriate device usage limits for each age group to prevent harm to development or the formation of undesirable habits. The ministry is seeking private sector cooperation to communicate and promote these guidelines.

Chaninan also noted discussions on supporting the livelihoods and employment of people with disabilities through technology devices. The ministry supports training programs for Apple products with eye-tracking controls, voice commands, and screen-reading features to help various groups of people with disabilities access modern technology more equitably.

"The advent of AI and artificial intelligence has both benefits and serious harms. If society cannot prepare in time, I ask for the cooperation of various private sectors in working with the government to establish appropriate regulatory measures and help raise awareness among all groups of people so we can advance together," Chaninan said.