07 Nov Thailand Introduces Facial and Fingerprint Biometric Checks for SIM Cards
Starting December 15, facial and fingerprint scans will be required for those who wish to purchase a new SIM card in Thailand, according to the country’s telecoms regulator last Monday.
National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) Secretary General Takorn Tantasith said that the measure was introduced to enhance mobile banking security. He additionally assured that it will not be used to track users, and that the privacy of all personal data will still be protected.
Scanned fingerprints of citizens will be checked against the data on their national identification cards, and facial scans will be used to verify the identity. Foreigners’ facial scans will be checked against their passport data.
Source: DW
