Legal Risks of Misrepresented Translator and Interpreter Credentials

Legal and Regulatory Risks When Translators and Interpreters Misrepresent Their Qualifications:

Ten Critical Issues Employers and Clients Must Be Aware Of

17 November 2025, Bangkok – The translation and interpreting industry in Thailand has expanded rapidly; however, it continues to face significant problems including credential misrepresentation, the use of forged licenses, unauthorized certification of documents, and violations of relevant laws such as the Act in judicial proceedings, consular legalization regulations, the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA), and criminal law concerning forged documents. This article identifies ten key risks that employers and service users must consider when engaging translators and interpreters who misrepresent their qualifications. The discussion integrates legal frameworks, professional standards, and empirical findings to support risk mitigation in legal, commercial, and data-security contexts.

Legal Liability Arising from Forged Documents and False Certification
Using translators who are not legally authorized to certify documents may result in the rejection of such documents by courts, government agencies, or foreign embassies. Under Sections 264–268 of the Thai Criminal Code, both the forger and the user of forged documents may incur criminal liability (Office of the Council of State, 2023).

Material Damage Resulting from Errors in Legal or Contractual Translation
Research in legal translation demonstrates that seemingly minor translation errors in contracts, judgments, and statutory texts can result in substantial legal and financial consequences (Cao, 2007). The risks increase significantly when the translator lacks proper training or professional licensing.

PDPA Violations Due to Uploading Confidential Files to Unapproved AI Platforms
Unqualified translators commonly upload client documents to AI or cloud-based tools without the required consent, risking non-compliance with Section 37 of the PDPA. Organizations may face administrative fines up to five million baht (Personal Data Protection Committee, 2022).

Unauthorized Access to Confidential Information without Adequate Security Measures
Interpreting and translation in legal, financial, diplomatic, and medical settings require strict confidentiality standards such as need-to-know access, encryption, and secure file transfer protocols aligned with ISO 27001. Individuals who misrepresent credentials typically lack such systems, increasing the risk of data breaches (AIIC, 2018).

False Claims of “Worldwide Validity” in Translation Certification
Document certification is regulated by specific legal requirements, including acceptance standards set by the Department of Consular Affairs and by foreign embassies. Misrepresentation that a translator’s certification is “valid worldwide” can result in document rejection and substantial additional costs (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2024).

Use of Forged Professional Seals or Fraudulent Membership Certificates
The use of fake association seals or fabricated licenses constitutes a criminal offense. Employers may be investigated as users of forged documents even if they were unaware of the falsification (Supreme Court of Thailand, 2021).

Tax and Accounting Risks Due to Improper Invoicing Practices
Unlicensed service providers often fail to issue tax invoices or use another person’s identity for billing. This prevents companies from claiming expenses and may result in retrospective tax assessments by the Revenue Department (Revenue Department, 2023).

High Risk of Project Abandonment or Non-Performance
Professional associations such as SEAProTI, NAATI, and ATA report significantly higher rates of missed deadlines, client abandonment, and quality failures among unlicensed providers compared to certified professionals (ATA, 2022). Such failures can disrupt judicial proceedings and business operations.

Unauthorized Court or Government Interpreting May Void Testimony
The Thai Supreme Court has ruled that investigative procedures or courtroom testimony may be invalid if conducted with interpreters who do not meet legal qualifications (Supreme Court Judgment 2050/2566; 3114/2566). This creates substantial legal risk for employers who engage unauthorized interpreters.

Employer Liability for Supporting Misrepresentation or Use of Illegal Services
If a translator or interpreter falsely claims to be a “licensed professional” and the employer relies on their services, the employer may face allegations of using or supporting forged documentation under Thai criminal law—even without direct intent (Office of the Attorney General, 2022).

Conclusion
Engaging translators and interpreters who misrepresent their qualifications presents systemic risks—legal, financial, regulatory, and operational. Professional certification, such as licensing under SEAProTI or internationally recognized credentials, is therefore essential for quality assurance and compliance. Employers and institutions should implement due diligence processes, including credential verification, NDAs, secure data handling, and documentation audit trails, to mitigate risks in high-stakes environments.

• AIIC. (2018). Code of professional ethics. International Association of Conference Interpreters.
• American Translators Association. (2022). ATA compensation & standards report. ATA Publications.
• Cao, D. (2007). Translating law. Multilingual Matters.
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (2024). Consular legalization and translation requirements. Department of Consular Affairs.
• Office of the Attorney General. (2022). Criminal liability in document offenses. OAG Legal Bulletin.
• Office of the Council of State. (2023). Thai Criminal Code: Section 264–268. Government Gazette.
• Personal Data Protection Committee. (2022). Guidelines for data processors under PDPA. PDPC Thailand.
• Revenue Department. (2023). Tax compliance handbook for service businesses. Ministry of Finance.
• Supreme Court of Thailand. (2021). Judgment on forged certifications.
• Supreme Court of Thailand. (2023). Judgment No. 2050/2566.
• Supreme Court of Thailand. (2023). Judgment No. 3114/2566.

ความเสี่ยงทางกฎหมายและการกำกับดูแล เมื่อผู้ให้บริการแปลและล่ามแอบอ้างคุณสมบัติ: 10 ประเด็นที่นายจ้างและผู้ใช้บริการต้องระวัง

17 พฤศจิกายน 2568, กรุงเทพมหานคร – อุตสาหกรรมการแปลและการล่ามในประเทศไทยเติบโตอย่างรวดเร็ว แต่ยังเผชิญปัญหาสำคัญคือการแอบอ้างคุณสมบัติ การใช้ใบอนุญาตปลอม การรับรองเอกสารโดยบุคคลไร้สิทธิ รวมถึงการละเมิดกฎหมายที่เกี่ยวข้อง เช่น พ.ร.บ. ในกระบวนการยุติธรรม มาตรฐานการรับรองเอกสารของกรมการกงสุล กฎหมาย PDPA และกฎหมายอาญาเกี่ยวกับเอกสารเท็จ บทความนี้นำเสนอ 10 ประเด็นที่ผู้ว่าจ้างและผู้ใช้บริการต้องระวัง เพื่อเป็นแนวทางในการลดความเสี่ยงด้านกฎหมาย การเงิน และความปลอดภัยสารสนเทศ พร้อมเสนอข้อมูลตามหลักฐานเชิงนโยบายและงานศึกษาที่เกี่ยวข้อง

ความรับผิดทางกฎหมายจากเอกสารปลอมและการรับรองเท็จ
การใช้ผู้แปลที่ไม่มีอำนาจรับรองเอกสารอาจส่งผลให้เอกสารถูกปฏิเสธจากศาล หน่วยงานรัฐ หรือสถานทูตต่างประเทศ และอาจเข้าข่ายความผิดตามประมวลกฎหมายอาญา มาตรา 264–268 ซึ่งลงโทษทั้งผู้ปลอมและผู้ใช้เอกสารปลอม (Office of the Council of State, 2023)

• AIIC. (2018). Code of professional ethics. International Association of Conference Interpreters.
• American Translators Association. (2022). ATA compensation & standards report. ATA Publications.
• Cao, D. (2007). Translating law. Multilingual Matters.
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (2024). Consular legalization and translation requirements. Department of Consular Affairs.
• Office of the Attorney General. (2022). Criminal liability in document offenses. OAG Legal Bulletin.
• Office of the Council of State. (2023). Thai Criminal Code: Section 264–268. Government Gazette.
• Personal Data Protection Committee. (2022). Guidelines for data processors under PDPA. PDPC Thailand.
• Revenue Department. (2023). Tax compliance handbook for service businesses. Ministry of Finance.
• Supreme Court of Thailand. (2021). Judgment on forged certifications.
• Supreme Court of Thailand. (2023). Judgment No. 2050/2566.
• Supreme Court of Thailand. (2023). Judgment No. 3114/2566.