NBTC to propose special SIM cards for foreign tourists so they can be traced

[Oldgumshoe]

What are these people on? micro chipping the next proposal. Oh shouldn't give them ideas.

[Somtamnication]

Another prime example of unjustified xenophobia. They should fear the enemy from within.  As Julius Caesar, Rubin and others found out. 

[waldroj]

"...Once the proposal gets a greenlight from the telecom committee..."

No only does this deserve to be treated with derision by ALL visitors to this country, but it could also be argued that these racist pigs are at odds with their own "daft" Constitution:

 

Section 36 A person shall enjoy the liberty of communication by whatsoever means. The censorship, detention or disclosure of communication between persons including any other act, with a view to being aware of or obtaining information therein, shall not be permitted, except by a court order or warrant or any other ground as specified by law.

 

Perhaps they could just microchip any non-Thai?

[JRinPDX]

Idea for real-time measure of the economy:  number of foreigners' SIMS geolocated at Soi Cowboy, et al. 

[TheMacMan]

Basically:

1) All tourists should have a 'special sim' like all jews in the war had to have a special armband or star

2) By implication they are assuming all tourists are criminals, or at least a large proportion to even consider this course of legislation.

3) Good on the Thais for at least not saying 'it is in order to assist tourists more quickly and effectively"..... no they have called it straight and simply said "the visitors would be traced more easily in case some of them might engage in illegal activities" so they are freely admitting that it is to track foreigners

4) Any criminal is NOT going to use a trackable easily identifiable SIM..... no they will simply steal a local one, or use a global one with international usage.

5) How will this help when the good people of the Thai underworld do what they usually do in tourist hot-spots..... and steal the tourists wallet/purse/bag and phone???? the authorities will end up tracking their own people too!?

6) As mentioned by other posters.... all longer term foreigners have had to produce ID/passports and register their SIM/number already..... they already know who and where we are, so I do have to agree with an earlier humorous post that said 'why not just give every tourist and foreigner arriving a waterproof ankle-bracelet" to just seemly tag and track us in the first place -  That at least is unlikely to be stolen and at the very worst will hopefully help locate the dead bodies....whereas a phone sim can go missing (as can the phone!)  

7) and finally.... "Thai nationals are not required to use SIM cards which can be used to trace back to their locations because they were required to show their ID cards when they bought SIM cards, explained Mr Thakorn."

 - Ummm!?????? as in point (6) longer-term foreigners ALSO had to do this..... provide ID and proof of person getting the SIM card (AS per THAI law)

The MAIN point is... a serious or dangerous foreign criminal element or potential terrorist is NOT going to register himself, NOT going to give any correct address, NOT going to use a trackable SIM or phone.... they will come in, maybe on false details or slip across a border somewhere and lay low while they do what they plan..... 

 

I am sure I am missing many other things here..... but is this just not a waste of money, resources and man-power? one that damages foreign relations and tourism???

[williamgeorgeallen]

first they could trial this on all the rapists and murders here who get short jail times or fines. oh wait it would be a violation of their civil rights, better just go straight to foreigners.

[IAMHERE]

So, I am not longer a tourist, I am a potential Enemy of the State.  Exactly what crimes are they expecting to deter ? Malaysia isn't a country to use as an example unless it is as a bad example.

[Longstaff]

'Fiddling while Rome burns'.

 

Is there a Thai word for prioritization?

[Krataiboy]

16 hours ago, sjaak327 said:

They have got to be kidding. Good I have a local sim for over 10 years now, and they will have to remove that one from my prying hands.

 

Of course it is a blatant invasion of privacy AND I as a foreigner was also required to present my passport for my local sim to even work after their registration <deleted> two years or so ago.

 

Also, people that bring their own sim used and simply roam are not going to be easily traced, wonder if those Einsteins ever thought of that..

 

 

 

 

 

 

Doesn't sound as if you are a tourist, in which case you won't be affected.  So far as I can see, there is no intention to spread the net to foreign residents. 

[Deepinthailand]

Easy no phone no sim simple. How are they going to find me to tell me I have to have a tourist sim??? Go to immigration here Mr ***** your new sim card put in phone. Sorry I don't have a phone are you supplying one!!!!!!!. 

[cumgranosalum]

Why is it that military governments and their acolytes are so totally obsessed with gathering information on people - most of which is useless and all together is far too much to sift and handle anyway? just another load of useless info that infringes basic human rights and the authorities will be unable to deal with.

 

If you think you are paranoid and the government is out to get you, take another look - it it the authorities that are paranoid and think YOU are out to get them.....

[Thian]

Then they will call over internet.

 

Better give them free wifi like the japanese do...and also immediat tax refund for tourists.

 

And who wants an extra simcard without extra phone??

[Peterphuket]

Once there was a famous dutch football coach who said: I'm the one who's as smart, or are you the one who's so stupid.

I think there all along been said.

[dageurreotype]

15 hours ago, madmitch said:

And if the tourist doesn't own a mobile phone?

 

Which is why there's been a recent surge in demand for the old analogue 'phones on ebay. Drug dealers in the UK (for one) prefer them as they can't be traced/monitored. So, that old Ericsson you've stashed away may come in handy if this level of paranoia keeps up. 

[Kru Baa]

I just love how pleased with themselves they are when they come up with one of these silly ideas.

[madmitch]

1 minute ago, dageurreotype said:

 

Which is why there's been a recent surge in demand for the old analogue 'phones on ebay. Drug dealers in the UK (for one) prefer them as they can't be traced/monitored. So, that old Ericsson you've stashed away may come in handy if this level of paranoia keeps up. 

And there I was, taking the p!ss out of my dad's ancient Motorola while I was in London last week! He'll have the last laugh!

[Thian]

8 minutes ago, Peterphuket said:

Once there was a famous dutch football coach who said: I'm the one who's as smart, or are you the one who's so stupid.

I think there all along been said.

 

He asked the reporters: Am i so smart or are you so stupid?

 

Even if the tourist has a phone would you think they take the simcard out so they can't call their family anymore?

 

They will say: "Bye bye Thailand, we go to Bali!"

[Peterphuket]

It's a good example of there IQ, something with a size of my shoe sole.

Okay I have to say I have a big size....

[elgordo38]

Quote

 With the introduction of special SIM cards, he said that the visitors would be traced more easily in case some of them might engage in illegal activities. unquote. They want to any stop the competition. 

[haroldc]

Since all SIM cards already are required to be registered to either a Thai's national ID number or a foreigner's passport number, the only possible reason for this proposal is to charge foreigners additional fees (i.e., dual pricing).

[TEFLKrabi]

Surely if all hotels and guest houses registered their guests then they'd be no need for this. 

[whatproblem]

The problem on thaivisa is that many people forget that a Thai needs a day to think about what he said to see if it is stupid or not

[flyingdoc]

George Orwell would be proud !

[Oink]

Immigration in Pattaya used to hand out copies of other peoples passports as a way of recycling paper (printing on the other side) so you could use those.

Hang on, they have had 27 copies of my passport so far for just about anything you can think of, so that may not be such a good idea after all.

Please disregard

[Skeptic7]

17 hours ago, sjaak327 said:

They have got to be kidding. Good I have a local sim for over 10 years now, and they will have to remove that one from my prying hands.

 

Of course it is a blatant invasion of privacy AND I as a foreigner was also required to present my passport for my local sim to even work after their registration <deleted> two years or so ago.

 

Also, people that bring their own sim used and simply roam are not going to be easily traced, wonder if those Einsteins ever thought of that..

 

 

 

 

While I too have a local SIM and number for over 10 years and agree with you 100%...Thailand has become a true Police State and Big Brother State that cares nothing about Privacy rights nor personal liberties. Thankfully they remain the epitome of ineptitude! 

[elgordo38]

17 minutes ago, whatproblem said:

The problem on thaivisa is that many people forget that a Thai needs a day to think about what he said to see if it is stupid or not

Do they run this by an applause or stupid meter for a reaction?

[Terry1968]

how about to give a 24h police escort to be sure 100% your not a criminal,

or to install immediately in the airport 1 spy software in you mobile device ?

+ a criminal background record  that also includes arrests, charges dismissed, charges pending and charges of which the individual has been acquitted. Just to enter the country

[peterrabbit]

Big Brother is watching - YOU!

[TheMacMan]

21 minutes ago, Oink said:

Immigration in Pattaya used to hand out copies of other peoples passports as a way of recycling paper (printing on the other side) so you could use those.

Hang on, they have had 27 copies of my passport so far for just about anything you can think of, so that may not be such a good idea after all.

Please disregard

 

Still happening in Phuket..... I got given a printed form about a month ago at Phuket town Immigration, had the full passport scan of some American on the back of it ?!?!?!?! (phot/number /ID usual stuff!)

[Deepinthailand]

2 minutes ago, peterrabbit said:

Big Brother is watching - YOU!

And you belive there not in your home country!!!!