Factors Influencing the Awareness and Understanding of the Personal Data Protection Act among Undergraduate Students at Bangkok Thonburi University

Abstract

The research titled “Factors Affecting Awareness and Understanding of the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) among Undergraduate Students at Bangkok Thonburi University” aims to investigate the factors influencing the awareness and understanding of the PDPA among undergraduate students at Bangkok Thonburi University, a group of individuals who extensively use digital technologies and the internet. This study focuses on exploring knowledge about personal data protection and factors affecting awareness, such as online media usage behavior, information sources, and academic activities at the university. Data was collected from a sample group of 400 students across all faculties and academic disciplines of the university. The research seeks to explore the influence of personal and social factors on awareness and understanding of the law, as well as examine the relationship between these factors and responsible online behavior.

The data collection revealed that online media usage and receiving information from various sources, such as attending related training or activities and receiving information from lecturers/instructors, play an important role in enhancing understanding of the PDPA. Students who frequently use online media show a higher level of understanding of the law than those who use it less. Furthermore, social and environmental factors, such as information sources and university teaching activities, also play a significant role in improving students' understanding of the law.

The research findings further suggest that social and environmental factors are crucial in raising awareness of the PDPA. Female students have a better understanding of the law compared to male students, and students from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences have the highest level of understanding when compared to students from other faculties. This study highlights the importance of promoting awareness of personal data protection through education and activities at the university, which will help students develop skills to protect personal data and reduce the risk of data breaches in the future. This research not only benefits students in protecting personal data but can also serve as a reference for developing personal data protection policies at the institutional and national levels. Studying the impact of these factors will help improve personal data protection policies at educational institutions and promote responsible digital information usage in society.