SINGAPORE — The Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) released
set of guidelines have been released today (Dec 26) for
organisations and consumers to better understand the Do Not Call
(DNC) Registry.
A new exemption order will also take effect from next Thursday to
allow more flexibility in telemarketing.
The new PDPC guidelines cover key issues such as obtaining clear
and unambiguous consent for telemarketing, what businesses can do
to obtain such content, as well as requirements for telemarketing
messages to include identification and contact information.
For example, the guidelines illustrate how businesses may identify
themselves and provide details on how recipients can contact them
in a telemarketing message.
These guidelines would complement those that were issued in
September this year on the Personal Data Protection Act.
“The advisory guidelines will help organisations in understanding
and complying with the requirements of the provisions relating to
the DNC Registry, when the provisions come into force on Jan 2,
2014,” said Mr Leong Keng Thai, Chairman of the PDPC.
The new exemption order, scheduled to kick in next year, allows
organisations to send text or fax messages on related products and
services to customers and members with whom they have an ongoing
relationship, without the need to check the DNC Registry.
For example, a bank or credit card company would be able to send
its existing credit card holders telemarketing messages about
related services, such as a rewards programme for credit card
holders.
As the exemption order does not apply to voice calls, organisations
are still required to check against the DNC Registry before making
telemarketing calls to promote related products and services.
The exemption allows consumers to continue receiving information in
a minimally intrusive manner, via text or fax messages, even if
they are registered with the DNC Registry and if the organisation
did not obtain evidential consent to send telemarketing messages to
their telephone numbers.
To rely on the exemption, organisations are required to provide
information in their messages on how consumers can opt out of such
messages, and allow consumers to opt out using the same medium by
which the message is received.
Upon receiving an individual’s opt-out request, organisations must
stop sending such messages to that individual within a specified
timeframe.
http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/new-do-not-call-registry-guidelines-issued
