Fingerprints to be required for all mobile phone users

Local Hua Hin and regional Thailand news articles and discussion.
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StevePIraq
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Fingerprints to be required for all mobile phone users

Post by StevePIraq »

Get ready for Big Brother.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/adv ... hone-users

Starting in February, you will be fingerprinted when you buy both pre-paid and post-paid SIM cards for your mobile phone.
The idea behind the system is to use SIM cards as a sort of personal ID.
The fingerprint of the person who has the SIM card in their phone should match the fingerprint of the SIM card in the government database.
Every mobile phone owner's fingerprint will be stored in a national database maintained by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) ,the telecommunications regulator.
No indication yet has been given on whether other government agencies will have access to this database or on measures to protect privacy.
EXISTING SIM CARD OWNERS URGED TO PARTICIPATE
People who already own SIM cards will only be fingerprinted voluntarily but they are being urged to participate:
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Re: Fingerprints to be required for all mobile phone users

Post by aragon »

StevePIraq wrote:EXISTING SIM CARD OWNERS URGED TO PARTICIPATE
They're having a :lach: no pharking way, thank you very much.
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Re: Fingerprints to be required for all mobile phone users

Post by RCer »

Do you work for NBC, CNN, Fox, or BBC? You should. :P
Fingerprints to be required for all mobile phone users
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Re: Fingerprints to be required for all mobile phone users

Post by StevePIraq »

The article states "Fingerprints to be required for all mobile phone users" and to be sure it won't be long before they make it compulsory for ALL.
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Re: Fingerprints to be required for all mobile phone users

Post by Big Boy »

Is this really such a big deal? Sounds more like job creation to me.

All Thais are already on a national fingerprint database; as are all Farangs with a Thai ID card. That just leaves a very small % of the population - the Expats without an ID Card. If they've got something to hide, they'll just delegate it to their wives or girlfriends.

Seems a pointless exercise to me.

Then there's scenario my son has. He has 2 phones for business use - they are passed from user to user.
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Re: Fingerprints to be required for all mobile phone users

Post by hhinner »

Isn't the idea that the fingerprints be used for secure phone banking? In which case it's pointless for those without fingerprint enabled phones. Also the idea of a non-certified application developed at a university being secure enough is laughable. I think the much touted and delayed PromptPay system is currently undergoing redesign having been found wanting as a secure banking system.
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Re: Fingerprints to be required for all mobile phone users

Post by StevePIraq »

To me it is no problem to have my prints taken they are on record in so many places it is irrelevant. I am surprised it is not compulsory when applying for a visa.
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Re: Fingerprints to be required for all mobile phone users

Post by crazy88 »

Well if they want my fingerprint instead of me carrying around passport, work permit, tabien baan, ID card of my wife, driving licence, loads of other signed bits of paper double crossed and stamped then I am all for it. Put your finger here sir; Job done. Retinal scans would be better though as an eyeball is not as easy to disguise as a severed finger.

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Re: Fingerprints to be required for all mobile phone users

Post by Bluesky »

Big Boy wrote:Is this really such a big deal? Sounds more like job creation to me.

All Thais are already on a national fingerprint database; as are all Farangs with a Thai ID card. That just leaves a very small % of the population - the Expats without an ID Card. If they've got something to hide, they'll just delegate it to their wives or girlfriends.

Seems a pointless exercise to me.

Then there's scenario my son has. He has 2 phones for business use - they are passed from user to user.
It is certainly one way to tether the identity of the registered user to the SIM. if the authorities wish to locate the operator/registered user of the device. They will be able to do so fairly quickly through the CMTS if it is active anywhere in country. As Big Boy mentioned their certainly could be some issues where multiple users of the handset are concerned. It will be interesting to see how they will deal with handsets in the country operating on foreign SIMs with international roaming activated.
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Re: Fingerprints to be required for all mobile phone users

Post by Spitfire »

Well...I certainly won't be taking part in this one.

Like the bit about a secure data base.....that's like them saying 'We'll keep your condom safe for you in the whore house.'
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Re: Fingerprints to be required for all mobile phone users

Post by Deep Blue »

They're going for total lock down of the country, - well as long as they don't execute Americans I'll roll with that. LOL
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Re: Fingerprints to be required for all mobile phone users

Post by RCer »

Just curious, how many here have never had their fingerprints taken for anything?

How many here that have had their fingerprints taken actually believe those prints are not in some massive database someplace?
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Re: Fingerprints to be required for all mobile phone users

Post by HHTel »

I don't recall ever having my prints taken for anything ever!
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Re: Fingerprints to be required for all mobile phone users

Post by Nereus »

RCer wrote:Just curious, how many here have never had their fingerprints taken for anything?
How many here that have had their fingerprints taken actually believe those prints are not in some massive database someplace?
Anybody that has ever worked in the Middle East will have their fingerprints recorded in numerous places.
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Re: Fingerprints to be required for all mobile phone users

Post by PeteC »

Anyone who has ever been in the military in any country should have had them taken, as well as anyone with a security clearance of any level. In the 1970's millions of kids in the US had their prints taken by their parents (via the local police station) as a tracking method in case of abduction. A half century ago that was the level of technology in place. In addition I think every baby born for the last 100 years + - has had footprints taken at birth by the hospital. Pete :cheers:
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