Rampant Spam SMS Offers, BRTI Requesting Explanation From Cellular Operators

Smartphone illustration (Irvan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - The rise of SMS offers without consumer approval, massive and timeless, is still happening. The Indonesian Telecommunication Regulatory Body (BRTI) will request an explanation from cellular operators regarding spam SMS received by the public.

"In the near future, we will discuss the possibility of making certain signs for sending SMS from cellular operators through special regulations. Discussions will be held together with cellular operators and other related parties, such as YLKI," said BRTI I Commissioner Ketut Prihadi Kresna, as quoted by Antara. , Friday, 18 September.

In a press release, the Indonesian Consumer Community asked BRTI to issue clearer regulations regarding service offerings via SMS from cellular operators.

"We ask that there are regulations that bind telecommunication service business actors to stop offering SMS that are not in accordance with the principles of consumer protection, if necessary, strict sanctions are imposed on business actors who violate them," said Chairman of the Indonesian Consumer Community, David Tobing.

SMS from cellular operators, as explained by BRTI, can be in the form of offers that are directly related to the services used by customers, and can also be in the form of offers that are not directly related to the services used by the customers.

With regard to offers that are not directly related to the services used by users, operators should pay attention to customer convenience, including whether customers want to receive SMS offers like that.

"Cellular operators should provide options for customers to no longer receive SMS like this, which we usually call 'opt in' and 'opt out'," said Ketut.

If a customer chooses "opt out", the operator may no longer send similar SMS. The protests by the Indonesian Consumer Community began with the increasing number of SMS offers from cellular operators, without consumer consent.

David assessed that there needs to be approval from consumers before operators send SMS offers like that. This pressure is also a further step from David Tobing as Alvin Lie's attorney.

So far, Alvin Lie has sued PT Indosat Tbk for repeatedly sending SMS offers at times deemed inappropriate, namely between 6:00 p.m. and 02:30 p.m. Alvin Lie has repeatedly complained to Indosat, but he continues to receive the offer SMS.