Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

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."

10 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

    1. 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.

  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 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:Sounds good, but... by benito27uk · · Score: 5, Informative

      I agree its not going to stop email spam, but I think this is more aimed at text spam to mobile phones, companies are sending out spam texts to people and when they reply they send to premium rate phone numbers costing 50pence/ £1 a minute as these are uk numbers they will hopefully be able to reduce the amount of people - especially children replying to them and more companies like this one http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2223504.stm will get fined large amounts

    3. 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 Weak and Feable by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    The ASA guidelines are voluntary not statutory, they're an industry body that has no legal power, the most they can do is pass a complaint over to Dept Trade & Industry when serious illegality has occured.

    Apparently the ASA had a massive increase in complaints regarding mobile txt messages, they went tenfold... from 6 to 60 complaints in a year! Anyway, by June I suspect not a single spam will enter my inbox... errr, right.

  4. EU Regulations by Kr3m3Puff · · Score: 5, Informative

    Probally the main reason it doesn't mention that it needs to be Opt-In is because of EU Privacy rules, all unsolicted advertising is supposed to be Opt-In.

    All forms have to be written that you proactively allow sharing of your information, if you don't expressily give your consent, your information cannot be shared.

    The US could learn a lot from EU Privacy Laws.

    --
    D.O.U.O.S.V.A.V.V.M.
  5. 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.
  6. 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?