Thai PM pushes tracking app for foreign tourists, denies it’s like "Big Brother"

[webfact]

Thai PM pushes tracking app for foreign tourists, denies it’s like "Big Brother"

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

Thailand's prime minister and defence minister Prayut "Big Too" Chan-ocha was a busy man before a cabinet meeting on Monday, reported Thai Rath.

 

He has denied claims that a tourist tracker app is like "Big Brother" and has encouraged his compatriots to eat their vegetables.

 

Firstly he went to an exhibition for the "Thailand Plus" tourist tracker app that has been developed after input from the digital economy and society, transport, health, and foreign ministries as well as the kingdom's immigration bureau.

 

He praised the app saying that it would inspire confidence for tourists coming in on the STV scheme and would create further confidence for Thais concerned by the arrival of foreign tourists. 

 

He said that the app would not impinge on personal freedoms or risk leaks of personal data. 

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

It would help with tracking, tracing, testing, quarantine and add to all the stimulus and economic benefits that the special tourist visa is bound to bring.

 

It was unclear if the PM was aware that the STV scheme is in utter confusion after conflicting press reports about the arrival of the first batches of foreign tourists, notes Thaivisa. 

 

If he was he was not spoiling the opportunity for the chance to deliver an upbeat message.

 

After praising Thailand Plus - that comes with the tagline "It gives you more than you thought" - Big Too went off to a promotion for the Vegetarian Festival. 

 

He advised Thais to eat lots of veg for health and in so doing observe religious precepts. 

 

No mention was made of the fact that the PMs security chief had delayed the arrival of Chinese tourists from Guangzhou last week citing fears that Thais would be put off attending the Phuket Vegetarian Festival by the presence of foreigners on the island. 

 

Prayut is called Big Too in Thailand and is often referred to by the term of "uncle" not brother.

 

The word "too" means to grab something by force. 

 

He rose to power in 2014 following a coup. 

 

Source: Thai Rath

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-10-13

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[YetAnother]

4 minutes ago, webfact said:

He has denied claims that a tourist tracker app is like "Big Brother"

then he is beyond clueless

[keith101]

4 minutes ago, webfact said:

 

He has denied claims that a tourist tracker app is like "Big Brother"

More like a father who doesnt trust his children and wants to track everything they do .

[John Drake]

5 minutes ago, webfact said:

He praised the app saying that it would inspire confidence for tourists coming in on the STV scheme and would create further confidence for Thais concerned by the arrival of foreign tourists. 

Does it come with a free flea collar?

[FarFlungFalang]

9 minutes ago, webfact said:

It was unclear if the PM was aware

After six years it's still unclear if he is aware!

Be aware the world needs more wares.

Edited October 13, 2020 by FarFlungFalang

[colinneil]

3 minutes ago, webfact said:

He has denied claims that a tourist tracker app is like "Big Brother" 

Just more BS from the man who could not tell the truth.

Remember... There will not be a coup, i do not want to be PM.

[Paiman]

These wonder-boys are still living in a Dreamworld. 

 

Time somebody smacks them so they wake up.

[86Tiger]

You, know, Thailand had it good for many years.

 

Tourists were rolling in around the clock, every day, every year and with them prosperity and riches that was hard for any government to screw up, even the army.  They didn't know why or bother to learn why people were coming by the thousands every day because it just always was that way, no need to understand just roll with the prosperity.  Suddenly, the goose that lays golden eggs is dead and no one has a clue what to do.

 

If they had bothered to learn anything at all they would know that every one of these hairbrained that are floated daily are just that, stupid.

 

Until Thailand returns easy to get in and relatively cheap tourism is dead.  And the longer it is dead, the longer it will take to revive.  We have already crossed the years mark for revival, they are starting to look at decades if the farce continues.......

 

 

YMMV

[sammieuk1]

Looks like a macabre pyjama party at the red dragon to me ????

 

[Mavideol]

23 minutes ago, webfact said:

The word "too" means to grab something by force.

give us an example, please....ohhh, Okkk!!! I know, I know!!! like grabbing power by force or military coup

[Mavideol]

????

25 minutes ago, webfact said:

 

He said that the app would not impinge on personal freedoms or risk leaks of personal data.

and he wants people to believe that  ????????????

[Mavideol]

28 minutes ago, webfact said:

He praised the app saying that it would inspire confidence for tourists coming in on the STV scheme and would create further confidence for Thais concerned by the arrival of foreign tourists. 

and here we have the weekly BS post

[Hayduke]

55 minutes ago, webfact said:

Thai PM pushes tracking app for foreign tourists, denies it’s like "Big Brother"

 

Yet another dazzlingly brilliant brainstorm from the Hero-General.

 

Once would-be-tourists find out about the rare opportunity to have every moment of their holiday tracked by Thailand’s famous “Not-Big-Brother” secret police…they will be irresistibly lured, enticed, tempted, beguiled, charmed, and seduced by the sheer wonder of it all.

 

Build more hotels...happy days are here again.

 

 

Edited October 13, 2020 by Hayduke

[Bluespunk]

48 minutes ago, webfact said:

He has denied claims that a tourist tracker app is like "Big Brother"

Deny all you want, you are still wrong and tourists will know it.

[Kadilo]

 

After praising Thailand Plus - that comes with the tagline "It gives you more than you thought"

 

Im not sure having a tag line that sounds like a Beach Road hooker is a good idea. 

Edited October 13, 2020 by Kadilo

[metisdead]

An offensive post has been removed. 

[steven100]

Nothing wrong with farang having the app, if you've nothing to hide then what's the concern.

It's purely for COVID19 tracking should a cluster or transmission become identified. 

[ThailandRyan]

59 minutes ago, keith101 said:

More like a father who doesnt trust his children and wants to track everything they do .

Can we chip him and his little Fatman watch collector to track and trace them so we know where the money goes. Buffoonery at its finest.

[ThailandRyan]

Just make it mandatory for all people in Thailand, the nationals as well as foreigners.  See how that goes over Prayut.

[Boomer6969]

Of course it is not a "Big Brother" thing.. But I got George Orwell's 1984 burnt, just in case.

[holy cow cm]

If I talk to 100 people from the USA who want to come for some fun and r&r, there will be zero takers on coming here to be tracked by these bozos. Of course some of them fancy the gals here and would not in the least want the regime monitoring how many strokes per minute for how many minutes the fun lasted. But even then they could not go to girlie land or pub land because they will have a regime chaperone. It's way over time these regime elites just get out and go away and let the real Thai manage their country and life. On another note, Alzheimer's must be creeping in for El Fathead because his mask does not match his shirt this time.

[JRG23]

1 hour ago, 86Tiger said:

You, know, Thailand had it good for many years.

 

Tourists were rolling in around the clock, every day, every year and with them prosperity and riches that was hard for any government to screw up, even the army.  They didn't know why or bother to learn why people were coming by the thousands every day because it just always was that way, no need to understand just roll with the prosperity.  Suddenly, the goose that lays golden eggs is dead and no one has a clue what to do.

 

If they had bothered to learn anything at all they would know that every one of these hairbrained that are floated daily are just that, stupid.

 

Until Thailand returns easy to get in and relatively cheap tourism is dead.  And the longer it is dead, the longer it will take to revive.  We have already crossed the years mark for revival, they are starting to look at decades if the farce continues.......

 

 

YMMV

Top post

[Kadilo]

1 hour ago, 86Tiger said:

You, know, Thailand had it good for many years.

 

Tourists were rolling in around the clock, every day, every year and with them prosperity and riches that was hard for any government to screw up, even the army.  They didn't know why or bother to learn why people were coming by the thousands every day because it just always was that way, no need to understand just roll with the prosperity.  Suddenly, the goose that lays golden eggs is dead and no one has a clue what to do.

 

If they had bothered to learn anything at all they would know that every one of these hairbrained that are floated daily are just that, stupid.

 

Until Thailand returns easy to get in and relatively cheap tourism is dead.  And the longer it is dead, the longer it will take to revive.  We have already crossed the years mark for revival, they are starting to look at decades if the farce continues.......

 

 

YMMV

Spot on. 
 

Take note TV. 

 

They need to pay a few of us a consulting fee to advise them on the way forward if you could set that up please. ????

Edited October 13, 2020 by Kadilo

[Grumpy John]

Whilst I revel in the humourous comments from other posters and now each morning  eagerly awaiting the arrival of a new day to drink from that fountain of insanity that emanates from government circles the unintentional humour....I feel the occasional pinge of dispare at the plight of those effected by this insanity.  Ordinary people just getting by,  no money in the bank,  no safety net...  It's hard for them and it's harder with a government that cares not what they suffer. So that humour I find entertaining comes with a dark side for others. 

[owl sees all]

 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Prayut "Big Too" Chan-ocha

Prayut "Big Too" Chan-ocha

 

And there was me thinking he was Uncle Tu.

 

Where have I been for the last few years. Must get a life.

Edited October 13, 2020 by owl sees all

[DrTuner]

I can tell him where he can push his tracking app into.

[connda]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Thai PM pushes tracking app for foreign tourists, denies it’s like "Big Brother"

Probably hasn't read 1984.  Isn't that book banned here anyway.  
How Prayut and company perceive this is inconsequential.  It's "how do the foreigners applying for entry perceive "tracking apps" as well as other privacy shredding technologies like GPS trackers for non-criminals?  Do they perceive it's like "Big Brother" (or Big Uncle Tu in this case)?
That - is the only thing that matters.

 

 

Edited October 13, 2020 by connda

[Justgrazing]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

He has denied claims that a tourist tracker app is like "Big Brother" and has encouraged his compatriots to eat their vegetables

Lettuce pray that no more cabbage brained schemes not rooted in reality come sprouting up like this .. 

 

[Kadilo]

1 minute ago, Justgrazing said:

Lettuce pray that no more cabbage brained schemes not rooted in reality come sprouting up like this .. 

 

They have bean coming up daily. 

[connda]

2 hours ago, Hayduke said:

 

Yet another dazzlingly brilliant brainstorm from the Hero-General.

 

Once would-be-tourists find out about the rare opportunity to have every moment of their holiday tracked by Thailand’s famous “Not-Big-Brother” secret police…they will be irresistibly lured, enticed, tempted, beguiled, charmed, and seduced by the sheer wonder of it all.

 

Build more hotels...happy days are here again.

 

 

Much more stylish and Hi-So will be the GPS tracking bracelets and ankle-wear.  They just need to contract with Louis Vuitton as a sole-source provider of high-quality, uniquely designed, and exorbitantly priced "tracking-wear" and the wealthy tourists, smitten by love, should simply flock to Prathet Thai!