The panel vetting the corruption bill has agreed to scrap the clauses allowing the anti-graft body to wiretap in its investigations, ending the lengthy debate in and out of Parliament on whether the measure does more harm than good.
Pol Gen Chatchawal Suksomjit, chairman of the panel, announced the decision after the panel's meeting on Friday.
"Wiretapping is a necessary tool but we [the panel] don't want to waste the National Legislative Assembly's time on it. We also agree the time was not right.
"As there are concerns of rippling effects, I'll remove Sections 37/1, 34/2 and 37/3 from the bill," he said.
The decision came after a heated debate against the measure by a number of NLA members, some of whom sit on the panel.
Earlier, the panel added the clauses to the constitutional writers' version of the bill, allowing the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) access to all communication of people suspected of being involved in corruption if there is a "reasonable cause".
In order to do so, it will have to seek an NACC resolution and an order from the new corruption court.
The panel claimed it was a necessary tool used by several countries to enhance efficiencies in tackling corruption, affected people could file complaints at any time and it can only be done with a resolution of the NACC commissioners.
Opponents of the measure argued it could be used to destroy political enemies and violate the privacy of people who were not politicians or high-ranking state officials. The bill also lacks details on how to seek a court permission, as well as how to report the findings and destroy acquired data. Some also think it could upset the balance of power among independent organisations and gives the NACC the most power.