Iran comes Up With New Rules to Stop Spam

EghtesadOnline: As part of new regulations announced by the High Council of Cyberspace, all mobile network subscribers are allowed to send a definite number of messages on a daily basis from April 14.

News ID: ۷۴۷۰۸۴

17 April 2019

Based on the new rules, the number of text messages sent via each SIM card should not exceed 500, ISNA reported.

A deputy at Communications Regulatory Authority Majid Haqqi says, "The limits are hoped to help curb the number of unwanted and annoying text message ads sent by advertisement agencies. The initiative is expected to produce positive feedback from subscribers."

After the news was announced, social media users and experts voiced concern over the measure saying that at best is useless, Financial Tribune reported.

As per CRA regulations, each user including managers of advertising companies, can purchase up to 10 SIM cards from each of the four major mobile operators, namely Mobile Telecommunication Company of Iran, MTN-Irancell, Rightel and Taliya Communications.

Observers say based on the new regulations, each company can use a SIM rack containing 40 SIM cards to send a total of 20,000 text ads to each subscriber every day.

They say the number is absurdly high and can do nothing to curb the annoying and unwanted ads. Plus, the number of ads can easily expand if a fraudulent company compels employees to buy SIM cards for the firm using their own national IDs.

Parallel Measures

In an effort to curb the number of annoying ad messages, CRA has started blocking ad sender mobile phone numbers since November 2017, when an automated monitoring system was launched. About 120,000 mobile phone numbers had been blocked by April 13, according to the CRA website cra.ir.

Through the system, people can file complaints with the CRA against the ad sender by sending their phone number to the communication ombudsman via text message.

People can simply send the ad senders’ number to 195. The regulator receives the complaints and blocks the offending number after issuing warnings and if the advertising company continues sending messages that many consider a spam.

Mobile operators are also prohibited from sending ad messages to subscribers. They are only allowed to send bill alert notifications.

The cost of mass advertisement through text messages is significantly low, and that is why companies prefer this means of publicity.

Unwanted ads have always been an annoyance for cell phone users. The latest move is expected to make a difference.