Phones require face scans in Thailand’s Muslim Deep South
At first, Haslina Awae was willing to stop using a phone to avoid providing a scan of her face to the Thai government.
Awae and other residents of Thailand’s Deep South, which comprise the three southernmost Malay-Muslim majority provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala, were required to hand over their biometric data before 30 April 2020 or have their phone signals cut. This policy, known as Song Chae or “Two Shot,” applies to the Deep South and four Muslim-heavy districts in an additional province. It does not apply to the rest of predominantly Buddhist Thailand.
Awae says the Two Shot policy violates her rights and creates an unjust burden disproportionately affecting Muslims.
JACK BROOK
