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Telco Spams and Gets Huge Fine

Posted by samzenpus on from the can-you-spam-me-now dept.

jack_call writes "According to The Register the large German based mobilephone operator 'Debitel' was fined $359000 for (deliberately!) sending a total 48000 spam messages( mail: 36000, sms: 12000) to Danish costumers of rival company 'Telmore'. According to different Danish media outlets, they appealed immediately, mostly because the fine comes out at about a sixth of what 'Debitel' made last fiscal year after taxes."

5 of 190 comments (clear)

  1. And they got off easy ... by zonix · · Score: 4, Informative

    It's worth noting that previous spam fines in Denmark have been much higher. Around 15USD per e-mail/SMS/whatever.

    But still, it's a good part of Debitel's yearly income.

    z
    --
    What would an EWOULDBLOCK block, if an EWOULDBLOCK could block would? -- me
  2. Re:Telesales by amorsen · · Score: 4, Informative
    Now if the concept could be extended to telesales, my sanity levels would definately be returned to normal.

    In Denmark telesales are illegal except for a few product groups (mainly newspapers). You can opt out of those as well.

    Telesales to companies are legal though.

    --
    Finally! A year of moderation! Ready for 2019?
  3. Re:A thought by LiquidCoooled · · Score: 3, Informative

    Theres a great site listing lots of these.

    Its here :)

    --
    liqbase :: faster than paper
  4. Re:In India too by HoneyBunchesOfGoats · · Score: 4, Informative

    It's not even human interaction these days. Where before I could have fun playing along with the telemarketers (some of whom recognized that I was just stringing them along, and even had a sense of humor about it), now all I get are recorded messages. I'll pick up the phone and say "Hello?", there will be a pause, and then an overly-slimy recorded message (worse than a bad used car salesman) will start: "Hi, this is Jim. Are you tired of your high cable TV bills?" I don't even have cable TV.

  5. Re:Telesales by Eivind · · Score: 3, Informative
    Move. To Scandinavia. In Norway, for example, marketing to physical persons over individually adressable electronic channels (i.e. fax, sms, email) is only allowed if there is prior, informed consent, or an ongoing business-relationship. The burden of proof lies on the one doing the marketing.

    Penalties: Fines or prison up to 1 year. These actually happen too. This week a company sending spam got a deadling of march 26th 12:00 for providing proof that 5 persons (including me) had given prior, informed consent to receiving marketing-email. If they fail to do so they'll receive a fine of around $10.000.