Thailand considers introducing location-tracking SIM cards for foreigners

World Today

Thailand introduces location-tracking SIM cards to foreigners

Telecoms regulators in Thailand are currently considering introducing a new SIM card for foreigners that would allow their location to be tracked at all times. CCTV’s Tony Cheng reports the move is causing fears among tourists.

For many tourists, it is impossible to go out without a mobile phone. But the Thai government is now considering a scheme to introduce a special SIM card just for foreigners – a SIM card that can track the user’s locations.

The Thai telecoms authority points out that the goal is to protect rather than snoop on tourists, and that any surveillance would require permission from the courts.

But the new SIM card would give Thai government considerable powers to monitor visitors.

Thailand is already well covered when it comes to monitoring visitors and native citizens alike. And the common SIM cards used by both Thai and foreign can already be tracked by cell towers.

It’s said that tracking the new sim cards would begin by default rather than when needed. This would certainly infringe on rights of privacy, and leave a lot of information in the hands of a government that appears to have little regard for individuals personal data.