Thailand to require face scans, fingerprints for new SIM cards

BANGKOK – Face-scans or fingerprints will be needed to buy SIM cards in Thailand from next month as the kingdom tries to crack down on electronic fraud and encourage mobile banking.

The new biometric system – which follows similar requirements in Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan – will begin on Dec 15, according to the telecoms regulator.

“We’re entering the digital age, our money now is linked to mobile services. By doing this, trust in mobile banking or payment systems will be improved,” said Takorn Tantasith, secretary-general of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC).

“Some people used fake ID to register their SIM cards, which created a problem,” he added, assuring users their privacy would be protected.

The face and fingerprint scans will be matched to government data linked to Thai national ID cards.

Tourists will also be required to have face-scans checked against their passport photos.

Thailand launched a pilot scheme in June in its insurgencytorn “Deep South,” where ethnic Malay rebels have used mobile phones to trigger bombs.

“After a trial in the most concerned areas of the country, people liked it, especially the security officials,” Korkij Danchaivichit, the NBTC’s secretary-general, told AFP.