Thailand (PDPA)

PDPA (Personal Data Protection Act)

What is PDPA?

The Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) is Thailand’s primary data privacy law. It regulates how businesses collect, use, process, and disclose personal data of individuals in Thailand.

For Shopify merchants, PDPA applies when your store:

• Sells to customers located in Thailand
• Collects personal data such as names, emails, phone numbers, or IP addresses
• Uses cookies, analytics tools, or advertising technologies
• Shares data with third parties, including international services

PDPA is closely aligned with GDPR and focuses on consent, transparency, purpose limitation, and data security. In most ecommerce scenarios, explicit user consent is required before collecting or processing non-essential data, especially for tracking and marketing.

Key PDPA Requirements for Shopify Merchants

PDPA establishes clear obligations around lawful processing and user rights.

• Lawful Basis for Processing
  Businesses must have a valid legal basis to process personal data. For marketing and analytics use cases, this is typically user consent.
• Explicit and Informed Consent
  Consent must be clearly obtained, specific, and informed. Users must understand what data is being collected and for what purpose.
• Purpose Limitation
  Personal data must only be used for the purpose it was originally collected for.
• Transparency and Privacy Notices
  Merchants must clearly inform users about data collection, usage, and third-party sharing.
• User Rights
  Individuals have the right to access, correct, delete, or restrict the use of their personal data.
• Data Security Obligations
  Businesses must implement appropriate safeguards to protect personal data.
• Cross-Border Data Transfers
  Transferring personal data outside Thailand requires safeguards and, in some cases, additional consent.

Risk of Non-Compliance

Thailand has increased enforcement of PDPA, particularly around consent and data breaches.

Potential consequences include:

• Administrative fines and penalties
• Civil liability and potential compensation claims
• Criminal penalties in certain cases
• Reputational damage and loss of customer trust

For Shopify merchants, common risks include collecting data without valid consent, unclear privacy disclosures, and improper use of third-party tracking tools.

How Consentmo Helps Shopify Merchants Stay Compliant

Consentmo enables Shopify merchants to implement compliant consent flows aligned with PDPA requirements.

• Explicit Consent Collection
  Ensures that non-essential cookies and tracking technologies are only activated after user consent.
• Clear Cookie Banner and Preferences
  Provides structured and transparent information about data usage and cookie categories.
• Consent-Based Script Control
  Blocks analytics and marketing scripts until consent is granted.
• Privacy Request Pages
  Allows users to request access, correction, or deletion of their personal data.
• Consent Logging and Record Keeping
  Stores user consent decisions to demonstrate compliance.
• Smart Geotargeting
  Applies PDPA-compliant behavior specifically to visitors from Thailand.

Thailand Compliance for Shopify: What to Keep in Mind

PDPA requires merchants to maintain both clear consent mechanisms and ongoing data governance practices.

To stay compliant, merchants should ensure that:

• Consent is obtained before activating non-essential tracking
• Data collection purposes are clearly defined and communicated
• Third-party tools and integrations are disclosed
• Cross-border data transfers are considered and explained
• User rights requests can be handled efficiently
• Data protection practices are regularly reviewed

As your Shopify store grows, maintaining control over how data is collected and shared becomes increasingly important.

Summary

PDPA requires Shopify merchants to process personal data with a focus on consent, transparency, and user rights.

To comply, merchants must:

• Obtain explicit user consent where required
• Clearly explain how and why data is collected
• Limit data use to defined purposes
• Support user rights (access, correction, deletion)
• Ensure secure handling and lawful transfer of data
• Maintain records of consent and processing activities

Consentmo simplifies compliance by providing consent management, tracking control, and privacy tools tailored for Shopify stores operating in Thailand.