The next time you visit Thailand, your movements may be tracked

Photo caption: Kallerna

The Thai government wants a new kind of SIM card to track the movements of tourists and any resident foreign nationals whilst in Thailand.

The Thai PBS reports:

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission is to propose the telecommunications committee the introduction of special SIM cards for mobile or smartphones used by foreign tourists while they are staying in Thailand.

NBTC secretary-general Thakorn Tanthasit said Wednesday that special SIM cards for mobile phones used by foreign tourists was put on trial use in Malaysia and the result is satisfactory in a way that the foreign visitors can be easily traced.

Resident “aliens” who are employed, married, or have retired in the country will also be required to use the new SIM, according to the Asian Correspondent.

The plan is currently being reviewed, the report adds, and may likely be implemented in the next six months.

Many would probably view the move as invasion of privacy, but the secretary-general stressed it was an issue of national security.

He said locals won’t be covered by the policy since they’re required to show their IDs when buying SIM cards.