Thailand is considering a proposal to issue a special SIM to foreign tourists that would allow authorities to track their mobile phones. The plans have been approved in principle by the country’s National Broadcasting & Telecommunications Commission, which aims to catch those who have overstayed their visas.
The commission said the plan would only apply to tourists, a statement that followed an earlier announcement that it would cover all foreigners, including residents with long-term visas, the Bangkok Post and other media reported.
The committee's secretary-general, Thakorn Tanthasit, suggested that the plan would not only help identify terrorists and criminals, but also help find travelers who were in trouble or had gone missing.
Tanthasit said:
“We will not restrict rights. The National Broadcasting & Telecommunications Commission will not have the authority to monitor users’ locations, but if tourists make a mistake or there is a court order, we will forward the order to a mobile phone company and seek cooperation.”
The committee, however, did not say exactly how the special SIM cards would differ from regular ones, which can already be tracked. Nor did it explain how it would overcome logistical hurdles, such as distributing them to such a huge number of people or how to track visitors who have access to cards registered to Thai nationals.
While the proposal has already been approved by the NBTC, Tantasith said the organization would consult with police, tourism authorities and travel agents before deciding whether to implement it.
