The Cabinet officially approves mandatory registration of prepaid SIMs in Thailand

[webfact]

The Cabinet officially approves mandatory registration of prepaid SIMs in Thailand
BY JONATHAN FAIRFIELD



BANGKOK: -- Yesterday, the Cabinet officially approved the new regulation which requires all users of prepaid mobile phones to register their SIM card before July 31.

The authorities say that if you do not register your SIM card before the deadline, you will be unable to make calls from your device, although you will still be able to make calls to the emergency services.

The compulsory registration of prepaid SIMs in Thailand was first proposed by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) in January, after it claimed the move was in the interest of national security, despite concerns from some mobile users regarding data protection and possible infringements of privacy. [read more...]

Full story: http://tech.thaivisa.com/cabinet-officially-approves-mandatory-registration-prepaid-sims-thailand/5033/

-- Tech News by Thaivisa 2015-02-19

[BKKdreaming]

ummm now lets see......

you have my info , you have my sim ID , now mix with Immigration computer info

Shake box well and what comes out ?????

GPS addresses of all overstayers

or anyone else they feel like grabbing !

[WhizBang]

When I went to register my SIM card at Emporium, I was told no cannot. I was told to go to big shop in Central World or in Siam only for foreigners. If you are Thai, no problems anywhere.

I think they need to get the process sorted out BEFORE they start demanding registration.

[SoFarAndNear]

The article says:

"Thailand isn’t the only country that requires users to register prepaid SIM cards, with similar laws already in place in countries such as Australia, Japan, South Africa, France, Norway, Germany, Switzerland and Hungary."

Yes its true, in germany, switzlerland and france you have to register to SIM Card but you can do this online and actually you can fill-out as name or ID card whatever you want also you don't have to send a passport or id card.

I am honest, I don't trust Thai Authorities with this one. This is some kind of the biggest weapon what they will have. I am sure this will end in many arrests and false accusations.

Edited February 19, 2015 by SoFarAndNear

[jonclark]

ummm now lets see......

you have my info , you have my sim ID , now mix with Immigration computer info

Shake box well and what comes out ?????

GPS addresses of all overstayers

or anyone else they feel like grabbing !

Okay - but a large number of foreigners here have a monthly bill - so they already have this information already for a number of foreigners . And I have yet to see immigration having either the imagination or compunction to go after overstayers in this fashion.

[JAG]

Bearing in mind the number of Sim cards there are around, I suspect that whatever system they have set up to use the masses of data they will accumulate will revert to the default setting of issuing an arrest warrant for an unidentified foreigner!

[FangFerang]

The article says:

"Thailand isn’t the only country that requires users to register prepaid SIM cards, with similar laws already in place in countries such as Australia, Japan, South Africa, France, Norway, Germany, Switzerland and Hungary."

Yes its true, in germany, switzlerland and france you have to register to SIM Card but you can do this online and actually you can fill-out as name or ID card whatever you want also you don't have to send a passport or id card.

I am honest, I don't trust Thai Authorities with this one. This is some kind of the biggest weapon what they will have. I am sure this will end in many arrests and false accusations.

Bluntly, I do not trust the Thai authorities with this. Australia, Japan, South Africa, France, Norway, Germany, Switzerland and Hungary are all countries where I wouldn't bat an eye with sharing this data...but historically the track record of injustice here is on the border between bonkers and stark raving mad.

[Strangebrew]

Actually it is to stop all these scam artist's dead, unless your breaking the law then non issue. Or if your a pervert and into kiddy porn then run like the wind scum.

Edited February 19, 2015 by Strangebrew

[jonclark]

Actually it is to stop all these scam artist's dead, unless your breaking the law then non issue. Or if your a pervert and into kiddy porn then run like the wind scum.

wow! Sim card registration to kiddy porn in one breath - sorry fail to see the connection.

[gk10002000]

Years ago I first picked Thailand as my preferred vacation spot because it was fun and easy. No advance visa paperwork needed. Easy visa on arrival. Decent public transport or transport for hire. Baht busses in the tourist areas or moto taxis make it easy to get around. Plenty of thai and western food choices. Wonderfully attractive women. Great foot and oil massage. I hapicked up old and cheap Thai cell phone that I buy minutes with and it works great for the very little I need to call back to the states. Voice and text I can send.

This SIM card registration just has a bad ring to it. My international plan on my USA phone is poorly priced, but since this phone I just got does work in Thailand, I probably will just use that overseas. My phone is old and has no GPS type thingy. Just an old flip top phone. Thailand cell phone people probably just lost my business.

[JAG]

Actually it is to stop all these scam artist's dead, unless your breaking the law then non issue. Or if your a pervert and into kiddy porn then run like the wind scum.

wow! Sim card registration to kiddy porn in one breath - sorry fail to see the connection.

Moved too fast for me too!