Australia slaps Nokia with $58k fine for text spam
updated 10:50 am EST, Tue January 24, 2012
Nokia Australia gets fined for SMS spam messages
Nokia has been issued with a $55,000 AUD (nearly $58,000 US) fine in Australia for spamming its subscribers with text messages in a marketing move. The company didn't offer an unsubscribe option to the recipients, which is required by Australian law, according to a Tuesday report. The Australian Communications and Media Authority oversees such matters and issued the fine.
Nokia said it has discontinued the spam service in Australia and elsewhere, and the option to unsubscribe is both present and simpler to access in newer handsets. The same rules apply to SMS marketing as e-mail marketing, the Australian authority said, adding Nokia agreed to train employees charged with SMS marketing about their legal constraints.
Advertisers find SMS marketing appealing, as they can use a user's location to give out context-sensitive messages. It can be expensive, however, in areas and on carriers where incoming messages aren't free.
