Plan to track all foreigners in Thailand through Simcard
Thailand has advanced plans to provide all foreigners in Thailand with a special SIM card so that the government can track the foreigner's location.
Last week, Takorn Tantasith, the secretary general of the Bureau of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, announced the plan. Anyone in Thailand who does not have a Thai passport can use this one SIM card to be tracked. The location of the owner can be viewed at any time. This function cannot be disabled by the user. No exceptions are made for foreigners with a work permit or a long-term visa.
According to Takorn, the reason for this draconian measure, which is quite an invasion of someone's privacy, is to ensure national security and prevent cross-border crime.
Foreign tourists who do not want to be located can of course continue to use their own SIM cards from the country of origin. Foreigners are not required to turn on location tracking. But when someone buys a Simcard from a Thai telecom provider, the location tracking is automatically switched on.
Takorn says he is not concerned about any rights or privacy issues. He compares this measure with the immigration documents on which foreigners must also state their residence address. He expects the plan to be implemented within six months. He rules out abuse of the system because only the Thai police with a court order are allowed to view the tracking data. Any improper use of the system will be penalized.
Furthermore, Tacorn wants to set a limit on the use of pre-paid telephone numbers in Thailand. Currently, unused numbers remain reserved for 90 days before being 'reused'. That period should be adjusted to 15 days. In practice, this would mean that everyone who leaves Thailand loses their number after 15 days.
5555 When I read the blog about the form that foreigners must fill out at immigration (about where people hang out online and in real life), my advice to the government to impose ankle bracelets on foreigners was not a serious suggestion. Apparently a cooperating official took it that way.
I continue to be amazed, measures to combat crime and the like should be imposed on everyone or no one. If people think this works (because of course a criminal neatly reports where he/she stays online and offline and uses this neat GPS tracking on the phone…) then also impose it on the Thai. Or would the world be too small if the ordinary Thai and the well-to-do Thai can be traced 24/7 and have to indicate where they are every month? If so, that might be an indication of how good of an idea these schemes are. I actually expect these hopeless trial balloons to quickly disappear into a drawer, but as we are with that retarded report form, that is not always the case.
George Orwell had it right with his book, 1984. Big Brother is watching you! An anxious picture of what the future will look like.
The junta knows what is good to promote tourism. First the beach chairs gone and now this. Before long, foreigners will have to appear before a balloting committee before they can enter the country.
That short time between reusing the telephone numbers can still become cozy. Was already very short and now even shorter and then the chance of misbellers is very high.
Now another big sign at the airport upon entry;
You are not welcome in Thailand
OF
Please continue to the very beautiful surrounding countries of Thailand,
they welcome you there with open arms.
If they introduce this, it will be a very discriminatory measure, again something for Human Right.
If Thailand wants to keep out unwanted visitors, they must demand a statement of good-bye from the country of origin.
Why is everyone so off on Thailand with this message ???
That of the SIM card was recently presented at the ASEAN meeting on August 2. Malaysia and Singapore are the instigators.
That the idea appeals to the current “government” is not surprising.
So probably a separate SIM card on arrival in all Asean countries, because cooperation is still a long way off.
Great idea! I'll send that official a letter and ask him to put a blood pressure monitor on it. Do they have a registration right away for my upcoming renewal. Oh, and such a pokemon thing; can i go ghost hunting...
So what? I have nothing to hide….By the way, I'm sure almost everyone here, including privacy whiners, can be tracked through their cell phone signal, through their GPS use, and through dozens of apps with location services that don't drop a cat.
I don't have a phone with GPS or GSM or any other bullshit. I use a phone to call and that's it. If necessary, I let my wife, son or daughter buy a SIM card and put it in my phone.
Gee, let's start a very lively trade in lead boxes (cage of faradeh principle) so that no tracking works. What a very stupid thing to do. Simple to circumvent and therefore absolutely ineffective. Another idiot who doesn't think.
The only problem is that your phone doesn't work either.
Furthermore, of course, easy to get around, let your girlfriend buy a SIM card and put it in your own phone, problem solved.
To be able to make calls you have to connect to the masts. They also gauge where you are. So a mobile phone and privacy are mutually exclusive.
And, unfortunately, swearing doesn't help.
Already available at the ANWB
In addition a link to these boxes of cases lol: http://faradee.com/en/phone-cases
I predict it will get scarier by the day. As much as I loved staying here, the more and more I think about staying away. The atmosphere of yesteryear is no longer…..but that is also normal when a country is led by a military dictatorship. The things that should change just stand still…only reprisals get more intense. Nothing changes for the better.
Can they immediately abolish the 90-day notifications because they are no longer necessary in my opinion.
Are you now bothered that the Thai police know where you are somewhere in Thailand?
You must have reasons for that that are not really kocher.
I have no problem with it, nor do I have any bad intentions.
In Cambodia you also have to do fingerprints, do you have problems with that?
We must also do something for it in the fight against terrorism.
Ok, a SIM card that expires after 15 days is not nice and you will have to buy a new one every time, but if you have problems with that, take a fixed monthly subscription and fixed SIM card.
I don't have bad intentions at all, but I do have a problem with it. It gives me a nasty “ankle bracelet” feeling, as if you are constantly being watched and tapped. And you really can't prevent terrorism with it.
And what about buying a SIM card on your Thai partner? That possibility is still there.
Precisely. My Thai wife and I have always done it this way since the ID requirement in Thailand. Let her take a number at the DTAC service center, and I'll drink a nice cup of coffee at the Black Canyon in the meantime.
Look and that's why it will never work.
All criminals have females who arrange a sim.
So I would say all foreigners with a Thai wife are suspect anyway.
See if you still like it when they check all your numbers.
Only because you live with a Thai.
Exactly right Adjo25!
My wife must have a foreboding mind because on the recent registration of all pre-paid numbers, she put my number in her name.
So I don't have a phone at all....
By the way; she is also the only one i call here as i don't speak thai so who should i call.
Yes, but if they only want to keep the prepaid card valid for another 2 weeks, it won't get you very far either.
Dear Peter, that's just the question.
The original post says: Currently numbers must go unused 90 days before they are “recycled,” but he proposed that anyone leaving the country could have their number revoked after 15 days, instead'. If it's the case that when you leave the country they want to know your phone number (which seems strong to me), and then let it expire after 15 days, then you're right. But again, I don't believe that. I think it will be that if your number is not used for 15 days, it will expire. In that case, you leave that mobile in Thailand with an acquaintance who calls himself every week, so that you can keep your number.
Nomen est omen, Telecom, Takom. I come, was of course inevitable!
This is too ridiculous for words! In France and Spain you have had to go through a lot of administrative mills for a few years before you can buy a prepaid SIM card as a foreign tourist and does it stop the terrorists? We've seen no! In France you must have 2 alcohol testers in your car, another idiotic rule, because let's be honest; does this stop the drunk who just stumbles out of the pub from getting into his car? Certainly not.
Since the new identification law for prepaid SIM cards in Thailand, my wife arranges my SIM card in Thailand, so my passport is not involved. Doing it that way will keep you safe from this crazy plan. But what is very annoying is that 15 days of number retention. Over the years this has become shorter and shorter. I used to be able to keep the same mobile number in Thailand for years, but the last 3 years my old number was no longer available and I had to choose a new number every time. Very annoying, because you have to message your Thai friends and family at the start of every holiday with your new number and hope that they change it in their address book.
Just buy a phone, insert the special SIM card and leave the phone at home (or somewhere else).
Then let your wife, girlfriend or someone else buy another phone + SIM and use only this one.
Done.
You can trace all SIM cards. That is also the first thing the police do if you are suspected of a serious crime. They can track exactly where you've been.
Dear Khun Peter, it is clear that you are not a criminal.
Forgive me, neither do I, but would you bring your cell phone or car with GPS if you were planning to commit a crime?
That's right, but then they have to find that 2nd "secret" phone with you instead of the "foreigners" phone that is on Erik's bedside table. They can't track down where you've been until they get the phone you've been carrying all along.
Those two telephones of yours are cozy next to each other at night on the bedside table and then the relationship is quickly established between those two telephones of yours. More is recorded than you think.
A regular SIM card cannot be traced if it is not used. If it is used, then the GSM mast with which it has had contact can be traced. Not the phone itself.
the SIM card cannot be traced, but your phone can. EVEN IF IT'S NOT ON. The telephone always sends a signal that you do not notice and so the telcom company knows where you are!!
addition: just put your phone away when it is off and you will notice that the battery is empty after a long time
How so?
The police do take care of the criminals and therefore have a Thai card.
Stupid rules like that don't stop the rascals. Unfortunately.
But the tourists.
I still have an old cell phone somewhere. Can you put the SIM card in there?
It's another one of those hot air balloons that Thailand pops up. To the hilarity of many.
Thailand has the property of first throwing “stupid” proposals in the media and then you hear nothing more about it.
It's a good thing that they are looking at ways to protect themselves against attacks and crime 'from the outside' and seriously considering different options. The saying is: 'prevention is better than cure'.
But not every option to be considered has to be immediately announced through the Media or…..maybe this is their 'deterrent method'? (intended preventively) and it's not going to happen at all, but do they want to scare some people?
Those who have nothing to hide shouldn't worry about such messages at all, at least I don't.
If you have nothing to hide then don't put on any clothes, tell everyone what your income is, don't lock the toilet door. Don't close your curtains. Do not use a password on your PC. Let everyone read your emails. And do not use the name 'Rentenier' as a pseudonym on Thailandblog, but use your real name.
Do you see that you have everything to hide?
About hiding, Chatting is not allowed here but…..let's say I'm far from perfect ha, ha…I used my real name 'Rien van de Vorle' but suddenly I couldn't use it anymore on this site and I became asked to enter a 'name' and because I see so many people using an 'alias'…..I am a rentier and my official first name is 'Reinier', you can see that it actually also appears in 'rentier'. Furthermore, I use my full name wherever I write or stay because I am not ashamed of my behavior or thoughts. A name like 'Peter' doesn't mean anything either, because how many 'Peter's' are there? Would you like to read my emails? There are hundreds of photos on my Facebook under: Rien Van de Vorle where you can also read my comments on many National and International 'subjects'. By the way, my income is 1350 Euros net and I often walk naked but not in public. I don't use curtains in Thailand because they are dust bunnies. The password of my Laptop and phone is 0000 because whoever wants to enter would have it easy and not force anything. How about you?
Dear Rien, a sporty response, for which tribute. What I wanted to say is that almost everyone has something to hide. Your and my privacy are a great asset. You shouldn't just hand that over. If someone shouts: "I have nothing to hide!" then I say Oh no, how much is in your savings account now? Then they look at me glassy and say: “that is none of your business”. A justified comment of course, but it shows that we certainly have something to hide.
Privacy is very important to me. And if I wanted to be watched, I would have myself converted into a hot woman.
This is a nice topic that causes quite a stir. From a safety point of view, the added value of this is not clear to me. The big crooks do have their methods to stay below the horizon. You won't catch it here. They can use those phone SIM cards as a distraction trick. The majority of thai number subscribers are traceable under conditions and we are also for telephone providers and a number of other organizations. Often we are not aware of this, but KPN, for example, regularly informs me that I am still staying in Thailand and what the costs of calling are. With the internet you are also regularly in the picture with this or that person. Even with people I wouldn't want them to know about. It is almost impossible not to be seen. With an authorisation, the police can trace you or at least make use of this. I thought this was already possible so nothing changes.
Stranded travelers can also be traced if they use Thai SIM cards. This is an advantage, although not a good sign if necessary. I would say people who feel discriminated against because the good have to suffer for the bad. Take it easy. It won't go that fast with enforcement. This requires a lot of people and they are not appointed as such. It's more about keeping up appearances for the population, but whether you can trace bombers with this, we'll see.
It remains to say that we will at least be allowed into Thailand. The possibly newly appointed US president Trump wants to exclude entire populations from high-risk countries. That is discrimination in full guise. Fear often does strange things to people. The latter will not yet have been invented in this field.
False security.
Apparently competitions are held in the higher echelons to come up with and implement the most silly plan. Collecting its data back into boxes so that it cannot be found at the critical moment.
The nonsense starts to take on some strange forms. I wonder if people will notice, for example, at my next 90-day notification that I have a different license plate, that I do my shopping at 7Eleven instead of Tesco and that I enter a different email address. I do not think so.
Who dares bet with me?
The Thai police can only view the tracking data with a court order. Any improper use of the system will be penalized.
Just like in the Netherlands/Belgium.
Everyone is back on their feet because their privacy will be violated again…
If you're being investigated, there must be a good reason for it. Do not you think ?
I'm not worried myself. I don't think I'm so important that I think they're going to invest staff, money and time in finding out my way of life.
They just act differently, and they can just call me otherwise. Do I pass on my whereabouts at that moment, and also what I am doing there. Why don't they put in all that effort?
It is not about having something to hide or not, but think of misuse of your data, such as identity fraud. This is already becoming a major problem in the West. Furthermore, I have no confidence that the Thai government keeps that tracking data safe. Thailand is not a real winner when it comes to IT security. You don't want your trade and walking to be floating around on the internet, do you?
You are already registered with the same passport upon entry and then there is even a photo.
I myself have been a victim of identity fraud. I therefore fully agree with Peter.
I would then ask at immigration not to register upon entry.
In addition, no extension to ask for, no bank account, no driver's license, no renting a house, hotel, etc…
Can you also go back to the Netherlands…
Besides, I'm not talking about whether or not you have anything to hide.
I'm just saying that I have no problem with being checked.
For example, I have no problem at all with my luggage or myself being checked before the flight. That is also for some violation of privacy, but should checking this be placed on the same level as publishing the state of the bank account, password on PC, closing curtains, locking the door of the toilet, in your running around naked, etc……
Losing your prepaid number within 15 days during a 15-day trip outside Thailand is a bit inconvenient and especially not practical. Are you on Suvarnabhumi coming back from the Netherlands, can't you tell your wife that you have arrived safely and take the bus or taxi to your home! What idiot thinks up something like that?
Since last year, prepaid SIM cards must also be registered, so you can already be traced. At least approximately (with which cell tower are you making contact). Now a distinction would only be made between Thais and non-Thais. Now I read that they will also apply this in Belgium. If you do not agree with this, I would not use an ATM card anymore. And with the large number of security cameras hanging everywhere but wearing a hat and sunglasses all day.
And you all continue to believe in the media. Panic. Like that storm a week or two ago. Like the riots that would come with the referendum.
They call this creating 'social support'.
So nonsense.
Beautiful system for criminals .... you put the SIM card in your device ... on the evening of the robbery you send your boyfriend on the road with it, who sends all meaningless messages 100 km away and then returns it to the crook ... if he does are arrested, they read out the sim card and that's a good alibi that it couldn't have been him…there are many variations on this…hhhh
Piet
Tracking can't be turned off?
Your phone, of course.
And you can also just leave it at home.
I have had my number for 8 years and I do not pick up a new number and if I have to, I take an old phone with the new SIM card in it and put it with my parents-in-law in Isaan and I myself am lying on the beach in Phuket, Hua Hin etc etc because if you turn it off and you put it on your bedside table, they will remember where you are.
And what's next? A yellow star on your T-shirt.
And Corretje, I think there is a lot more domestic mafia than foreign ones.
And that your Thai wife did a round dance, says enough about her attitude (also noted in previous articles)
Withdraw money, withdraw cash in shops, check in and out of public transport, leave your phone switched on. All means to see where you are. No Thai SIM card is needed for that. I wouldn't use that anyway. Nowadays so many wifi hotspots in Thailand where you can call via Whatsapp or Facebook Messenger. Totally free! Also works at Suvarnabhumi Airport.
“We can't make it more fun,” was the first thought that came to my mind.
There will be a lot of thought before this unpleasant - looking measure is introduced , which I think can be easily circumvented , especially by the malicious .
It doesn't matter to me that it can be probed where I am.
It is annoying that there is a good chance that a special price tag will be attached to this "special" SIM card and also that the validity period is limited with all the ensuing flights.
It is interesting how will be maintained.
I am happy if crooks can be caught by this measure, because in the end that is what it is all about
JW
I do see a positive 'dot' here! It's easy when we're lost, we call the Thai government and they can tell us exactly where we are and guide us back to where we want to be (literally and figuratively!) We are forced to carry a phone or SIM card. card from a Thai. What about if one has a dual Nationality?
Great, here we go again with the rose-glasses group, who try to justify everything, as long as it comes from a Thai agency or the Thai government. In the country of origin, such proposals would curse every agency, and government, and scream bloody murder.
Every phone is traceable. No additional SIM card is required for this. It is simply built-in and always works. Only you and I can't read this one. Special investigative services only. If they understand. At the beginning of this year, the FBI still had some problems reading a hacker and showed them the way. Comes to bkk it's suffocating with cameras. You can follow closely there. Privacy …. alone in your own home.
I'm going to see what it's like in North Korea. It is very similar in Thailand.
Eric first and foremost take a fixed contract and you won't have that problem and you can always call your girlfriend.
There will be 2 reasons
control which is not bad if you have nothing to hide and if you work can present a work permit but, many foreigners work here without a work permit, I know several and could make a list, (time sharing / selling apartments and renting out houses / scooters and other activities I pay quite a lot of money every year for my work permit and 1 year visa.
If you're in Thailand to work and you're okay or you're retired and you're okay then I don't see all the fuss! And it is not surprising that Singapore and Malaysia are pioneers.
Maybe they could learn something from Europe, then maybe they would have security under control than now, with those idiots blowing themselves up!
Quite a lot of money for your work permit? The costs are 3100 Baht annually and most employers pay that for the foreign employees. I have never had to pay the amount myself. Also applies to my visa.
By the way for all those who are not happy, the door is open, you can always return to your country of origin if you don't like it, very simple, we have rights in life and there are duties in life.
There are also many foreigners who can no longer return for various shady matters in their own country and hide in Thailand, then this is the right way to track them down and clean them up.
I've lived here for 12 years, have everything in order and never seen a policeman or anyone else try to blackmail me. Those stories are there but usually part of the story is missing, overstay, something goes wrong in your own country, no work permit, working with illegal immigrants and so on and they obviously have problems.
Moderator: Please keep the discussion to Thailand.
Can you explain how this helps track down people hiding in Thailand?
I miss that.
Apart from that, many registered sims are long gone from the original owner.
I draw that conclusion from the regularity with which the mobile numbers of Thai people change.
They don't always buy a new SIM card.
As far as I know, there is also nothing regulated for the resale of that SIM card. (with phone)
But I could be wrong about that.
But even then that does not mean that people will put their new second-hand SIM card in their own name in practice.
Many reactions, anyone who knows how to roll out this plan? Everyone can pick up a new SIM card from the Telephone Company, everyone have a new telephone number? Only valid for long stays, only with a new purchase of a SIM card, also for incoming tourists?
M curious.
Nico B
Pff just keep your old SIM card, no matter from which country, and do everything via the free services such as Whatsapp, wechat, Tango etc. etc.
Simply call, facetime, video call, send messages/photos/files for free worldwide via the WiFi and all of that completely FREE.
So no more stupid expensive Thai traceable SIM card needed we live in 2016 modern people hardly make regular calls or SMS anymore but of course those Thai haven't thought about that yet...
I think all phones with a SIM in it are traceable as long as those phones are not completely switched off. They continuously transmit signals to be/stay connected to the nearest transmission/receiving tower.
So I don't really understand what a SIM card especially for foreigners adds to security. Unless extra code is/can be written in those SIMs, so that all kinds of data are secretly sent.
Furthermore, the thinking behind this seems to be that only foreigners commit crimes.
@Corretje: Has your wife ever heard of the Panamapapers? Very interesting reading material about money diverted from TH by Thais.
You can trace just about any phone simply by using cell towers. Since they already register passports, they already know where you are.
Hope other things can be circumvented in phones.
Put it in airplane mode and you have WiFi but no network/4G access. Most phones don't need a SIM card anyway to only use the WiFi. But the location of your WiFi hotspot is traceable.
For example, GPS location can be faked, with an Android phone it is a matter of installing a program, with an iPhone you have to perform a jailbreak, then download a program called fakeGPS. Even in apps like find My iPhone, it simply provides a location that you have entered yourself.
In the past, the Thai police have been in the news because they, for example, viewed the data of the massage service Line before using end-to-end encryption. That you can just trust the Thai police and that they would need a court order is somewhat doubtful in that respect.
The fact that “people” are traceable will not bother me much. I already don't take my phone everywhere and I rarely, if ever, use it.
What I would find inconvenient is that I would then be forced to call at least once every 15 days, just to keep my number…. I think I would lose this one every time…
Then I can only be reached via the internet.
And to trace criminal foreigners? The only thing you will achieve is that they will no longer use a Thai card. It's like banning guns…criminals won't mind. The only ones who fall victim to these kinds of actions are those who are just honest.
That's the same as it is happening in the world right now… because of a few people going astray, 90% of humanity has to suffer. In Europe life is already so strictly prescribed, because they want to prevent everything. Now it looks like it starts here too.
Anyway…. there have been a lot of fantastic proposals in the past and none of them have been fulfilled so far.
Rarely so many reactions to an item as this case.
My common sense told me that as far as the technical possibilities are concerned, there are quite a few "monkey sandwich" stories.
So I spent some time doing some internet research. The facts:
Not a GSM mast seeks contact with a GSM telephone, but the telephone seeks contact with the nearest mast and only when the telephone is switched on. If contact has been established between the GSM mast and the GSM telephone, data is exchanged. The GSM mast does continuously send out an echo signal, but that is passive.
OFF-IS-OFF. Off is not standby. That is not to say that the power source is completely disconnected from the phone. After all, the on/off button is not an analog switch. The power button is an electronic circuit that itself requires power to function and may or may not power the telephone electronics. In the off state, the phone's electronics are disconnected from the power source, but the power button's electronic circuitry still has a small amount of power to turn the phone back on. I have been unable to find any information proving the claims that a GSM phone can be polled when it is off. The GSM mast does send out an echo signal that is reflected back, so that the “GSM mast” knows that a GSM telephone must be nearby, but does not recognize which telephone and where it is located. After all, the phone no longer transmits anything?
Without power, the phone will not connect to a network and you can certainly not be tracked. That is also what providers Vodafone and KPN say: whoever switches off his telephone cannot be traced. But if you have an older 'feature phone' (predecessor of the smartphone), for example, then your mobile cannot actually be switched off. These phones continue to transmit signals.
In addition, so-called 'malware' may be installed on phones. This makes you think that your phone is off, while it secretly continues to send signals. This method is already being used. A presentation in Las Vegas (2013) explained how to install the malware on Android phones. With the help of malware, it is not only possible to find out where the phone is located, but the microphone can also be switched on remotely to listen in. Recently, various media reported that the NSA is already using this on a large scale.
The Dutch police can do it too. A change in the law makes it possible for the police to break into computers and telephones. Internet security company Fox-IT expects that the police will make frequent use of it. “Where the old-fashioned tapping of a telephone only yields conversations, hacking a telephone will yield much more information. From behind the desk, the police can track where someone is and even turn on the microphone and camera unnoticed.”
My conclusion: OFF-IS-OFF. But if you really want to be sure that you are not being “followed”, remove the battery from your phone.
Almost every day I get an Audio text from Dtac to come and get a new SIM card and even a new phone is promised. I don't react to it and think “Up Yours”. 555!
I also went to do my 90 day report in Jomtien yesterday. Didn't get a form and didn't ask for anything either. Handed over my passport, the Immigration Officer looked into the computer and she handed it back. See you next time! Gone in a minute.
Just a trial balloon. Just like with the rejected idea of giving foreigners a bracelet for security upon entry.
If you really don't want to be followed, by anyone, just don't get a cell phone and never go online again.
I haven't used a phone in Thailand on leave for a long time, just email to the home front, or fb a message!
Raids in short-time hotels, brothels and massage parlors of low quality. If this ever comes through, that's exactly what you can expect. The possibilities to generate some extra income for the police are unimaginable!
There is no such thing as a sim with a built-in tracker.
What they may want to do is reserve a certain set of sims for tracking.
Compare the effort it takes to filter unique numbers from a list with the effort it takes to filter all numbers from 12300000 to 12399999 from the same list, for example.
This makes it easier (read: cheaper) to track this target group of highly suspicious persons with criminal intentions.
The fact that it doesn't work is irrelevant, in Thailand they have bastardized the Olympic mentality: intention is more important than result.
Go through all the responses. Don't understand what the fuss is about.
Every 'falang' is already registered anyway, even in the amphoe where it lives, if not you are illegal. So 'they' always find me, because I go for a check-up every 3 months as prescribed, don't leave my wife's house, - have tabien job - unless we are going somewhere, and if we leave the country for a week's holiday in Vietnam, for example, I also have permission from Immigration and the Embassy, because I report that. And I don't have a mobile phone, use my wife's, her number is written all over my documents. My email is also used through that phone. My Belgian passport was drawn up at the Belgian Embassy in Bangkok, and I am therefore registered there. Everything about me, including my declared income, can be checked and checked by the Thai Government, which happens, annually when applying for an extension of a residence permit. So don't see any problem in possibly introducing a SIM card for every foreigner. In fact, that control is already there, without a Simcard. Of course this does not apply to anyone who has something to hide and/or is involved in shady practices.
Everything has been said on this subject, we close the comment option. Thanks everyone for their input.