File complaints on unwanted commercial SMSs


Regulation of unwanted commercial e-mail and SMSs was published in the Official Gazette last week, obligating firms to get confirmation from recipients before sending commercial messages. The Ministry of Customs and Trade developed a mechanism that enables citizens to directly file their complaints regarding unwanted commercial messages. The ministry established a complaints section on its website, allowing citizens to submit the unwanted message that they received in order to file a complaint about it. To use the online system, citizens must provide their ID number, birth date and cell phone number, then the information about the firm that they are filing a complaint about and finally the visual of the message received. Following these steps, ministry officers will get in touch with the firm that is subjected to the complaint and warn the firm. The ministry may even fine the firm if necessary.