Thailand's National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has announced stringent penalties for those accepting payment to register 'mule SIM cards'. Under the amended technology-crime decree, violators may face up to three years in prison and a fine of up to 300,000 baht. This move aims to curb the growing issue of SIM cards being used in technology-related crimes.

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The NBTC highlighted that criminals are increasingly targeting the public, including children, to register SIM cards which are then misused for illegal activities. Under Thailand's Royal Decree on Measures for the Prevention and Suppression of Technology Crime, individuals found guilty of registering a 'mule SIM' are subject to severe legal consequences. This amendment is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen technological crime prevention.

Trairat Viriyasirikul, deputy secretary-general of the NBTC, warned that individuals who use their personal data for someone else's SIM registration could be held liable if the number is tied to a crime. The penalties extend beyond just registering SIMs; brokering, selling, and renting any electronic transaction accounts also carry steep fines and imprisonment. The NBTC is determined to enforce these measures to deter misuse.

The commission has urged the public to be vigilant and avoid allowing their personal information or facial scans to be used for SIM registration. Those who discover their information has been misused in this manner should report it online or via the Anti Online Scam Operation Centre hotline. The focus is on educating the public to prevent further occurrences, reported The Nation.

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now · The Nation · 05 Mar 2026

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