Optus fined $110k for SMS spam

csp-central-newsACMA has issued $110,000 in infringement notices to Optus Networks Pty Ltd for allegedly sending SMS messages without accurate sender identification, breaching the Spam Act 2003.

It seems that Optus pumped out 20,000 messages promoting its OptusZoo entertainment service, but didn’t identify itself as the responsible sender.  Instead, it just quoted sender identification ‘966’.  Recipients were apparently expected to work out that this meant ‘Zoo’ in keypad speak.  Of course, it could also mean ‘Yom’, ‘Zom’ or ‘Xon’.

According to ACMA, Optus has paid the penalty and advised that new compliance measures have been implemented that will ensure accurate sender identification is included in all future commercial electronic messages.

More comment soon.

January 14, 2009 | Filed in How not to do it, Spam Act, advertising 

Comments

One Response to “Optus fined $110k for SMS spam”

  1. Piquet on January 16th, 2009 1:09 pm

    It’s curious that Optus put itself in a position to be fined rather than agree to acceptable undertakings. Given that most undertakings consist of a promise to be good, an internal compliance program and sometimes some sort of statement to the public or industry fact sheet. Even with the fine Optus has committed to improving its compliance so we can only wonder what else ACMA wanted that was worse, to Optus, than paying $110k?

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