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UK Spam Controlled by UK's Advertising Standards Agency

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the can-i-have-some-of-that dept.

Goth Biker Babe writes "The Advertising Standards Agency in the UK has outlined new rules which govern text advertisements including SMS spam, e-mail spam, and web pop-ups according to the BBC. All unsolicited advertising must now clearly identify itself as advertising. This is as a direct result of the number of complaints about junk texts, e-mail and web pop-ups. All thought the article doesn't mention it a BBC news report this morning stated that unsolicited advertising must now be opt-in rather than opt-out."

7 of 152 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Sounds good, but... by DickBreath · · Score: 5, Funny

    ....they're planning to enforce this how?

    The same way the UN enforces its resolutions.

    That is to say, if you don't obey this resolution.... Hey! You better had obey this resolution, or... um... or else... um... we're going to pass another resolution if you don't obey!

    --

    I'll see your senator, and I'll raise you two judges.
  2. Re:As if it will help. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I take exception to that, I have been working diligently over the last few years producing spam in Vietnam, Korea, Tiawan, China and Japan, we've worked very hard to cultivate this regional stereotype especially faced with stiff competition from Nigerian fraudsters, give credit where it's due. Spam doesn't come from the US, it's merely targetted at countries with the most suspectably dumb and gullable people.

  3. can someone explain this? by brmic · · Score: 5, Funny

    And the rule which stops car advertisers encouraging anti-social or irresponsible driving has been strengthened - now they must not even condone bad driving.

    does it really say that before the Advertising Standards Authority (whoever that is) stepped in, car advertisers in the UK promoted road rage and hoped to sell cars by claiming you could hit children and old ladies without the slightest dent to your cherished chrome bumper?

  4. Unsolicited advertising must be opt in by wowbagger · · Score: 3, Funny
    ...unsolicited advertising must be opt in...


    Unsolicited advertising means advertising you did not ask for.

    But to opt in means you have asked for it.

    But if you have asked for it, it is not unsolicited.

    LOGIC ERROR: Norman, co-ordinate
    --
    www.eFax.com are spammers
  5. Is this why God created (gasp) Government? by release7 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Nobody ever said Government was perfect (and I defy you to find an institution that is), but dammit, it's the only thing we have to bring order and law to a world of chaos. The anti-government, anti-regulation libertarian rhetoric that has captured the popular mind in the last couple of decades has got to come to an end before the spam problem will be solved in the US. The UK is on the right track.

    --

    <a href="http://www.joblessjimmy.com">Work is dumb and so is Jobless Jimmy.</a>

    1. Re:Is this why God created (gasp) Government? by Daniel+Dvorkin · · Score: 3, Funny

      Actually, God created government so that government could create the Net. Spam was an unintended consequence -- kinda like when God said, "Let there be beer," I'm sure He wasn't thinking of Budweiser.

      --
      The correlation between ignorance of statistics and using "correlation is not causation" as an argument is close to 1.
  6. But information wants to be FREE!! by goldspider · · Score: 3, Funny
    These advertisers shouldn't be viewed as capitalist pigs trying to peddle worthless products upon a frustrated public.

    They should be revered for the incredible volume of information they liberate and release to all of us on a daily basis!

    --
    "Ask not what your country can do for you." --John F. Kennedy