Legal Enforcement Issues in Combating Human Trafficking Through Online Platforms in Thailand

Abstract

This research consists purposes were 1. to examine concepts, theories and principles related to the offense of human trafficking through online channels 2. to compare the United States of America, the Republic of Singapore and Thai laws concerning online human trafficking 3. to analyze legal problems associated with online human trafficking and 4. to propose recommendations and solutions for improving Thai legislation on this issue. This qualitative research employed a documentary research method by collecting data from legal texts, court judgments, textbooks, academic articles, theses, conference documents and reliable online sources. The information was systematically analyzed and synthesized in relation to the research questions. The study found that 1) The application of theoretical principles to analyze and explain the phenomenon of human trafficking through online channels reveals that the issue is highly complex and stems from multiple factors. These include technological advancement, a lack of digital literacy, economic inequality and the widespread dissemination of misinformation. Collectively, these factors exert severe impacts on the security of individuals’ lives, property, and overall societal stability 2) human trafficking laws in Thailand, the United States of America and the Republic of Singapore share similarities in defining offenses and penalties but differ in certain details, such as Thailand’s exemption of liability in cases of poverty and increased penalties based on offender status, while the U.S. and Singapore emphasize harsher penalties in cases involving abduction or violence 3) law enforcement still faces challenges, particularly in the interpretation of Sections 6 and 9, proving offenses in cases of victim consent, identifying accomplices, limitations in digital evidence collection, and witness protection and 4) amendments to several core laws are necessary to enhance the effectiveness of combating human trafficking in the digital era, especially by expanding the scope of Sections 6 and 9 of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act B.E. 2551 (2008) to cover online offenses, and by revising the Computer-Related Offenses Act B.E. 2550 (2007) and the Witness Protection Act B.E. 2546 (2003). To help enhance the effectiveness of law enforcement, to help enhance the effectiveness of law enforcement.