Leong Keng Thai talk cock: Do-Not-Call exemption 'gives consumers options'

[Confuseous]

Do-Not-Call exemption 'gives consumers options'


Head of commission says this in detailed response to criticisms

By Irene Tham Technology Correspondent

AFTER four days of continual criticism from consumers and privacy advocates, the head of the Personal Data Protection Commission came out yesterday with a detailed explanation on the reasons for its new exemption policy.

The policy lets companies send SMS and fax messages to existing customers without having to check the Do-Not-Call (DNC) Registry, which lists the numbers of people who want to block marketing from businesses.

This exemption move, announced last Thursday, was seen as a U-turn by its critics.

Not so, said Mr Leong Keng Thai, the commission's chairman, at a media conference.

"We do not consider the exemption order a U-turn but rather an expansion of options for consumers. Without the exemption order, it's an all-or-nothing approach."

The end result: Consumers may miss out on relevant marketing information from existing service providers, like a bank's promotional tie-ups with retailers for its credit card holders, he said.

Mr Leong's response yesterday is the second time in three days the commission is defending its decision to exempt businesses from checking the DNC Registry, which takes effect on Thursday.

The first time, it said the move did not dilute the original intention of and was not a back-pedalling on the part of the registry.

Dismissing accusations that the commission had caved in to pressure from businesses, he said the exemption "is not a back door to indiscriminate marketing" as it is narrow in nature. It covers only text and fax messages on products related to consumers' "ongoing relationship" with vendors.

Voice calls and one-off transactions are excluded. For instance, a person who visits a property launch is not an "ongoing" customer. Property agents cannot send him messages about new launches without checking with the registry or getting explicit consent. In addition, firms must inform customers how they can unsubscribe using the same delivery channels. Once they opt out, messages have to stop after 30 days.

Communication with existing customers was a hot topic at roadshows and workshops the commission held in the past four months with trade associations, chambers of commerce and individuals.

Some critics said it led to the commission caving in and coming up with the exemption order.

They said a neater solution would have been to provide these exceptions in the DNC registration process itself. But that would not be practical, said Mr Leong, as there would be too many lists for businesses to check.

"The exemption order is the least disruptive to consumers and businesses," he said, adding that Britain's DNC registry also has a similar SMS exemption.

Ms Angie Tay, vice-chairman of the Contact Centre Association of Singapore which represents call centres here, cheered the move. "Having too many lists to check will increase the cost of compliance due to increased labour requirements," she said.

Consumers Association of Singapore president Lim Biow Chuan said the move "will be a preferred option for most consumers".

Engineer Ngiam Shih Tung, 46, however, disagreed. "Consumers want certainty that businesses will not message them without explicit consent."

[email protected]

 

[Scrooball (clone)]

Maybe we should give him options like a dildo or iron rod to his itchy asshole

 

[Jlokta]

Maybe we should give him options like a dildo or iron rod to his itchy asshole

Or perhaps this New Year Wish I read from the Internet?

"May the fleas of a thousand camels infest his crotch and may his arms be too short to scratch."

 

[Confuseous]

They forget the that the whole exercise was meant to protect consumers and part of a bigger scheme pertaining to protection of personal data.
This clown, like the rest of them MIW appointees, it is business first, fcuk the consumers.

 

[laksaboy]

Looks like the pro-business PAP govt never changes.

What's the point of a DNC registry if you allow some marketers to be exempted from it? World class govt and public institutions got bribed again?

:kma:

P.S: If the PAP govt does not give a damn about civil liberties, don't expect it to do much better for protecting consumer rights and privacy. There's quite a lot of overlap for these two fields.

 

[palden]

He take Kopi money is it?

Do-Not-Call exemption 'gives consumers options'


Head of commission says this in detailed response to criticisms

By Irene Tham Technology Correspondent

AFTER four days of continual criticism from consumers and privacy advocates, the head of the Personal Data Protection Commission came out yesterday with a detailed explanation on the reasons for its new exemption policy.

The policy lets companies send SMS and fax messages to existing customers without having to check the Do-Not-Call (DNC) Registry, which lists the numbers of people who want to block marketing from businesses.

This exemption move, announced last Thursday, was seen as a U-turn by its critics.

Not so, said Mr Leong Keng Thai, the commission's chairman, at a media conference.

"We do not consider the exemption order a U-turn but rather an expansion of options for consumers. Without the exemption order, it's an all-or-nothing approach."

The end result: Consumers may miss out on relevant marketing information from existing service providers, like a bank's promotional tie-ups with retailers for its credit card holders, he said.

Mr Leong's response yesterday is the second time in three days the commission is defending its decision to exempt businesses from checking the DNC Registry, which takes effect on Thursday.

The first time, it said the move did not dilute the original intention of and was not a back-pedalling on the part of the registry.

Dismissing accusations that the commission had caved in to pressure from businesses, he said the exemption "is not a back door to indiscriminate marketing" as it is narrow in nature. It covers only text and fax messages on products related to consumers' "ongoing relationship" with vendors.

Voice calls and one-off transactions are excluded. For instance, a person who visits a property launch is not an "ongoing" customer. Property agents cannot send him messages about new launches without checking with the registry or getting explicit consent. In addition, firms must inform customers how they can unsubscribe using the same delivery channels. Once they opt out, messages have to stop after 30 days.

Communication with existing customers was a hot topic at roadshows and workshops the commission held in the past four months with trade associations, chambers of commerce and individuals.

Some critics said it led to the commission caving in and coming up with the exemption order.

They said a neater solution would have been to provide these exceptions in the DNC registration process itself. But that would not be practical, said Mr Leong, as there would be too many lists for businesses to check.

"The exemption order is the least disruptive to consumers and businesses," he said, adding that Britain's DNC registry also has a similar SMS exemption.

Ms Angie Tay, vice-chairman of the Contact Centre Association of Singapore which represents call centres here, cheered the move. "Having too many lists to check will increase the cost of compliance due to increased labour requirements," she said.

Consumers Association of Singapore president Lim Biow Chuan said the move "will be a preferred option for most consumers".

Engineer Ngiam Shih Tung, 46, however, disagreed. "Consumers want certainty that businesses will not message them without explicit consent."

[email protected]