The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission's (NBTC) plan to boost national security by asking foreign tourists to use special SIM cards on their phones during their stay in Thailand has drawn mostly negative reactions.
"I will never buy any local SIM card that allows the authorities to track my movements. This is an invasion of privacy," said Tim Ronning, 45, from Denmark.
He said roaming services would be another option for him if the plan comes into effect early next year.
The NBTC on Tuesday agreed in principle to demand that all mobile operators sell special SIM cards to foreign travellers who want mobile services through the purchase of a local SIM.
- See also: Security agencies to get warrantless wiretaps
- Earlier report: Tracking only for tourists, not foreign residents
The regulator initially planned to embed location-based service software into the SIM cards to enable mobile operators to track the call history of the user in the event he or she became a criminal suspect.
NBTC secretary-general Takorn Tantasith said earlier the regulator will discuss the matter with mobile operators, the Customs Department and other state agencies governing national security.
All mobile operators are expected to start launching the special SIM cards by early 2017.
Mr Takorn said the NBTC has no intention to breach the fundamental rights of foreign visitors. "We only want to ensure the nation's security."
"Whatever the reason is, it is discomfiting," Alex Petrov, from Russia told the Bangkok Post, shaking his head.
A Muslim visitor, Sofiane, who travelled from Paris to Bangkok, said the new measure would be acceptable as long as the safety of foreign tourists is ensured and immediate state assistance can be provided during emergencies.
"The measure could be useful in terms of national security. I do not mind [installing the SIM card required by the state] if the government can reach me in any emergency case more quickly," he said.
Mr Sofiane said, however, he had not heard about this idea before even in Malaysia where the NBTC earlier said the SIM cards have been a requirement for foreign visitors for the same reason.
"I visited Malaysia recently and nobody asked me to put in any SIM card," Mr Sofiane said. Even China does not have this rule, he added.
A visitor aged 33 from Holland who asked not to be named said the new requirement is understandable, but he was worried it could discourage foreign tourists from visiting the country.
"From migrant crises to other security problems around the the world, I am really not surprised about the Thai government coming up with this idea, but I'm concerned it would make foreigners feel uncomfortable and avoid travelling to Thailand," he said.
Yuthasak Supasorn, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, said foreign tourists normally use international roaming services for their mobile phones when they travel to Thailand and can be tracked eventually.