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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."

4 of 152 comments (clear)

  1. As if it will help. by Big+Mark · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Most of the spam I get (as a UK resident) comes from the US. Get them to clean up their act and spam would be dead.

    -Mark

  2. Sounds good, but... by Dr.Enormous · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ...they're planning to enforce this how? Not that I don't appreciate the sentiment, but I don't think saying "don't spam" is going to mean much to the Nigerians who keep promising me untold riches. Still, I suppose you have to start somewhere.

    1. Re:Sounds good, but... by MrFredBloggs · · Score: 5, Insightful

      "they're planning to enforce this how?"

      The ASA has no teeth. It's a self-regulatory body. If a member breaches it, they`ll be `told off` by the ASA, but there are no mandatory fines, and spammers will NOT ever be members of the - this is not a law.

      Nothing to see here.

  3. ASA != Government by meringuoid · · Score: 5, Insightful

    They're an industry self-regulatory body. This means that respectable advertisers won't spam, but mainsleaze was never the big problem. Pyramid frauds and penis pill salesmen don't care what the ASA says.

    --
    Real Daleks don't climb stairs - they level the building.