GATINEAU — From October 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021, ISED Canada’s Spam Reporting Centre (SRC) received more than 144,560 complaints (which works out to 5,560 per week), according to the CRTC’s spring 2021 snapshot of activities to enforce Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL).
During this time period, CRTC enforcement measures included 143 notices to produce, 17 preservation demands, 10 warning letters, 1 notice of violation and a $75,000 administrative monetary penalty (the largest spam penalty ever issued to an individual under CASL).
When asked their reason for complaining to the SRC, 93% of Canadians said lack of consent was the reason for their complaint. The identification of the spam sender was given as a reason by 34% of those who complained, and deceptive marketing practices were cited by 30% as their reason for complaining. (People who complained to the SRC were able to select more than one category of complaint reason.)
More than 76% of the messages reported to the SRC were related to affiliate marketing or legitimate businesses selling or promoting the sale of a good or service, says the CRTC. The top five categories of affiliate marketing messages reported to the SRC related to: food, drug and health; surveys and sweepstakes; casino; online shopping; and technology products and services. The top five commercial message categories were: marketing services; technology products and services; online shopping; updates and notifications; and newsletters.
Many of these types of communications are allowed under the rules which say, in part, a business which had a prior relationship with a consumer is allowed to email that consumer, unless they opt out.
Since CASL came into force in 2014, the CRTC’s enforcement efforts have resulted in payments of more than $1.4 million, including approximately $805,000 in administrative monetary penalties and $668,000 from negotiated undertakings.
For more from the CRTC’s CASL snapshot spring 2021 edition, please click here.
