82,000 Unwanted Texts Equals $300,000 Fine For Australian Business

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has fined outdoor product retailer 4WD Supacentre $302,500 (US$199,000) for sending 82,000 texts without having gained the recipients’ consent. It also sent 1,575 messages to customers who had unsubscribed. The offences occurred over six months. Under Australia’s Spam Act, businesses must obtain consent before sending marketing messages, and provide recipients with an unsubscribe option. The business has also been subjected to a three-year court-enforceable undertaking that requires it to appoint an independent consultant to review its compliance with spam laws and detail any necessary changes. Five Warnings In the 11 months before ACMA began its investigation, it sent five spam compliance alerts to 4WD Supacentre....