Immigration Biometric System Fails to Record Data for 17 Million Travelers

[webfact]

File photo for reference only. Courtesy: Biometric

 

Thailand's Immigration Bureau has admitted to lapses in its biometric system, affecting the tracking of about 17 million travellers last year. According to opposition MP Rangsiman Rome, the system's capacity was maxed out, halting biometric data collection and posing security risks by potentially allowing criminals to re-enter undetected.

 

Rangsiman, chairing the House Committee on National Security, revealed that since the licensing for the system expired, the Bureau has only been capturing facial images and fingerprints, not true biometric data. He warns it could take up to 29 months to reinstate a functioning system, with procurement yet to commence.

 

Despite discussions across government committees, higher authorities have not actioned the necessary measures to rectify the issue. Rangsiman claims this lapse contributes to unchecked activities by transnational criminal groups within Thailand.

Pol Col Neti Khanboon, speaking before the committee, conceded the system's limited capacity, which currently holds data for 50 million individuals. An upgraded system requiring a substantial budget is in development, aimed at resolving current limitations.

 

Initially introduced in 2019 for 2.1 billion baht, the biometric system faced scrutiny and controversy. Notably, high-profile officer Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn had criticised its procurement, linked to an infamous but unsolved gun attack on his vehicle in 2020. Further, allegations of corruption during procurement surfaced, involving former national police chief Pol Gen Chakthip Chaijinda and others.

 

Rangsiman underscores the ongoing security risks and inefficiencies in Thai border control if systemic failures aren't promptly addressed, reported Bangkok Post.

 

-- 2025-02-22

 

 

[steven100]

well that worked well then  .....   

 

please don't go within 10 feet of my PC ....

[ozz1]

Typical Thailand give me more money and we'll fix it the whole immigration system really needs to be upgraded but that won't happen too many people getting kickbacks

[johng]

They got fingerprints and face scan  but  not "true biometric data"

what else are they thinking of  capturing retina and DNA ?   !!

[bamnutsak]

I'm sure they'll do a better job with the Thailand Digital Arrival Card.

 

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/tourism/40045807

 

 

[Celsius]

Thailand 3.0 🤡

[blaze master]

Sounds like a new multi million baht project is on the horizon. Where can I sign up to bid for the contract.

 

Cha ching.

[Mr Meeseeks]

They can't do anything right, can they? Time to avoid responsibility and blame someone or something else.

 

Better throw a banana skin at anyone who asks difficult questions or better yet, blame dirty foreigners. That always seems to work.

[Mr Meeseeks]

43 minutes ago, johng said:

They got fingerprints and face scan  but  not "true biometric data"

what else are they thinking of  capturing retina and DNA ?   !!

 

Only photos of faces and fingerprints were collected, not proper facial recognition or fingerprint scans.

[Mr Meeseeks]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Rangsiman underscores the ongoing security risks and inefficiencies in Thai border control if systemic failures aren't promptly addressed, reported Bangkok Post.

 

Thailand has fairly secure borders and does a good job of Policing them imo. They are neighbours of poorer countries and so there's always going to be major problems in this regard.

 

Only have to look at the UK to what a disaster is happening there.

 

I like Rangsiman, he seems to be a Thai politician that knows what he is talking about and is not afraid to bring issues like this to the fore.

[ikke1959]

Thailand and computers are not going together... Thailand the hub of failing computer programs would be better than hub of IT. No wonder they want the arrivalcard back and now in digital way.. It will be a big mess probably not ready now before the 1st of May 

[Tropicalevo]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Notably, high-profile officer Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn had criticised its procurement, linked to an infamous but unsolved gun attack on his vehicle in 2020. Further, allegations of corruption during procurement surfaced, involving former national police chief Pol Gen Chakthip Chaijinda and others.

 

And now we know why the wolves are after Big Joke.

He was right back then and probably right now.

His problem is that if he spills all of the beans, it will not be an empty car that gets shot up next time.

[findlay13]

1 hour ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

I like Rangsiman, he seems to be a Thai politician that knows what he is talking about and is not afraid to bring issues like this to the fore.

 He won't last long then.😆

[spidermike007]

Thailand desperately wants tourism, but does not seem to care about the consequences of the numbers, or the quality of tourists. It's all about jacking those numbers up to the highest level possible.

 

When you do that you have to pay for it, and if you're too cheap to be willing to pay for the correct systems, the correct procedures, the correct software, and the correct experts you're going to pay a price for that negligence and oversight. 

[Guderian]

Are they still planning on introducing the biometric boarding passes in the next few months? If so, I suspect there may be a drastic reduction in the numbers flying out of the country as they'll all be stuck at the departure gates where "Computer Says No!" lol

[Presnock]

9 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Thailand desperately wants tourism, but does not seem to care about the consequences of the numbers, or the quality of tourists. It's all about jacking those numbers up to the highest level possible.

 

When you do that you have to pay for it, and if you're too cheap to be willing to pay for the correct systems, the correct procedures, the correct software, and the correct experts you're going to pay a price for that negligence and oversight. 

Well if there ever was a question of why they go through life like this, notice that whenever they report the numbers of tourists at a local or national level, they always include the amount of monies made off of those tourists!  That is the only considertation IMHO, just like now they are talking about changing the regulations on the sale of alcohol - going to open up the flood gates in order to make "extra" billions of dollars off of the tourists.  PM said just that!

 

Just now, Guderian said:

Are they still planning on introducing the biometric boarding passes in the next few months? If so, I suspect there may be a drastic reduction in the numbers flying out of the country as they'll all be stuck at the departure gates where "Computer Says No!" lol

yes possible but then they might just announce that for a small fee they will let the foreigners leave.

[jimbob123]

Rangsiman Rome for president! Someone who is not scared to tell the truth.

[spidermike007]

5 minutes ago, jimbob123 said:

Rangsiman Rome for president! Someone who is not scared to tell the truth.

Truth, integrity and honor in politics? I don't see much of that here, and I don't see much of that anywhere in the world right now, especially in America. 

[Andycoops]

You can't beat getting your visitors to fill in a form, which is why I do my 90 in person as I don't trust anything that the Muppets come up with as far as technology is concerned.

[Mukdahan Mark]

Does that mean the government has no proper record of when people left / returned to the Kingdom?  Handy for avoiding the 180-day tax rule if so!

[digger70]

Immigration Biometric System Fails to Record Data for 17 Million Travelers. 

 

What could /WILL  go WRONG with all the new Fandangle  Crap including the AI .

No matter what new Things  come out  Nothing seems to be working the way that they suppose to work.

They either don't know what they are doing Or doing it Wrong.  🙏

 

[quake]

Quote

Immigration Biometric System Fails to Record Data for 17 Million Travelers

 

The jokes just write themselves here somedays. 

Carry on Thailand. 

 

 

[Cabradelmar]

Par for course, really. Thailand and technology... In this country, technology deployments simply speed up the level of incompetence. Put a system on top of a broken process and all you get is a broken system.

[quake]

Bet someone tried to upgrade from Win 95.

[connda]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

According to opposition MP Rangsiman Rome, the system's capacity was maxed out, halting biometric data collection and posing security risks by potentially allowing criminals to re-enter undetected.

No different than before the biometric system.

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand's Immigration Bureau has admitted to lapses in its biometric system, affecting the tracking of about 17 million travellers last year. According to opposition MP Rangsiman Rome, the system's capacity was maxed out, halting biometric data collection and posing security risks by potentially allowing criminals to re-enter undetected

Tech hub of Asia..

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, Celsius said:

Thailand 3.0 🤡

-3.0

[connda]

6 minutes ago, quake said:

Bet someone tried to upgrade from Win 95.

Nah - they entered the 21st century.  They use Win 2000. 

[quake]

Just now, connda said:

Nah - they entered the 21st century.  They use Win 2000. 

 

Yes,  but think that was win 2000 Home addition.  

[statman78]

40 minutes ago, Guderian said:

Are they still planning on introducing the biometric boarding passes in the next few months? If so, I suspect there may be a drastic reduction in the numbers flying out of the country as they'll all be stuck at the departure gates where "Computer Says No!" lol

They have already introduced facial recognition boarding passes, at least for domestic flights.  I’ve already used the system and it works well.  Thai Airways makes people board by group number but if you registered your face when you checked in at a kiosk you can board anytime. It’s great if you have carry on bags.