Re: opt-out registry comments

Wanton defamers, purveyors of false claims & malicious detractors beware....

http://www.dmasa.org/dmasa/dma_extra.php?id=269 

Response from: The Direct Marketing Association of South Africa

The DMASA has come out in defence of its ability to manage the National Opt
Out Registry after a malicious spat with contenders for the tender were
fuelled on ITWeb. 

"The DMASA has been the target of malicious attacks on its credibility with
outside parties making claims in a bid to compromise the DMASA's good
standing with the National Consumer Commission ahead of a hotly contended
tender process.  The DMASA is a body established to protect the interests of
consumers against unwanted and unsolicited direct marketing.  As a body, its
role is to regulate the direct marketing industry and in this regard the
association has played a fundamental role in implementing legislation in
consultation with the Department of Trade and Industry in the interests of
consumer protection.  At the same time the association has played an
important role in finding a balance between the interests of business and
the right to market products and services, that is both in line with the
interests of consumer protection and to the satisfaction of the consumer
commissioner," says Brian Mdluli, CEO of the DMASA.

The Direct Marketing Association under the mandate from its members took the
lead five years ago to develop a national opt out registry that would allow
South African consumers to opt out from unwanted communications from its
members - this was done long, long before it even became a legal
prerequisite in terms of the now implemented Consumer Protection Act.  This
was done entirely at a cost to the association and its members and at no
stage has the consumer ever had to pay for the use of the system - something
that is highly unlikely to be achieved by any other party. 

"The infrastructure and methodologies are already in place and working
successfully which means that there will be no delays in offering consumers
a means to opt out from spam and unsolicited marketing and no excuse for
companies not to comply with the provisions of opt out marketing," explains
Brian.

 "The DMASA is serious about consumer protection and has walked the path for
the past five years with legislators - the only industry association to
actively do so - to finally bring to fruition the biggest piece of consumer
protection law on the continent.  The National DNC registry is the next step
in this process towards protecting consumers and the DMA is supremely
positioned to offer this service as we have been operating it for a number
of years already.  It is a telling sign of the calibre of the people behind
the attacks when, up until now when the vast amount of the work had to be
done at our expense, that they are now such vocal proponents of consumer
protection when there is the chance of a financial benefit for them doing
so," says Brian.  

"Most critical to point out, is that the National Do Not Contact database is
hosted securely on a dedicated server, so any attempts to breach our
information website or network will in no way compromise the DNC registry.
Our website which contains information about the DMA and our activities is
purely a marketing tool which is entirely separate to the secure server for
the DNC registry.  Any attempts to compromise the DMA's website and claims
of malware being found on the site have absolutely no bearing as the DNC
system is securely managed and hosted off site," explains Brian.

The DMASA is fully committed to consumer protection and assures all
consumers who have registered on the DNC database that their information is
secure. 

"We are busy consulting with our legal team at the moment with regard to the
reports and e-mails that are flying around and furthermore tracing the
sources of these attacks.  We will be taking action against the purveyors of
these false claims and accusations that are based in wanton defamation.  We
will not be deterred in our efforts to ensure that we act in the best
interests of South African consumers as an industry body.   We urge
consumers and media to exercise their discretion and separate the hysteria
from the facts when clearly there are a number of private individuals and
companies who are serving up these false claims in their own self-interest.

 "We will not be drawn into this quagmire of slander as it does absolutely
nothing to further the interests of consumers on such an important matter.
We trust that the National Consumer Commission will let the law run its
course and do what is best for the South African public.   We also issue an
open challenge for these detractors to meet us around a table, to debate the
issues around the opt out register, the implications of opt out and opt in
laws for South African business, and to put measure and backbone to their
claims," concludes Mdluli.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
> On Behalf Of Simeon Miteff
> Sent: 01 August 2011 12:49 AM
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: Re: [IOZ] opt-out registry comments
> 
> So I understand from the CPA requires that spammers accept direct opt-
> out
> requests from the public, in addition to providing for the opt-out
> registry.
> 
> What about a hack where a third party broadcasts opt-out requests to a
> list of
> known spammers on behalf of registered users?
> 
> I realize this has the disastrous drawback of helping spammers who
> intend to
> break the law build their spam lists, but if the alternative is a DMA-
> run
> opt-out registry that might happen anyway...
> 
> On 07/31/11 22:43, Mike Silber wrote:
> > Simeon
> >
> > Comments were solicited by the NCC.
> >
> > Mike
> >
> > On 2011/07/28 10:44 AM, Simeon Miteff wrote:
> >> Hi Joe
> >>
> >> Pardon my ignorance, but isn't spam illegal?
> >>
> >> Regards,
> >> Simeon.
> >>
> >> On 28/07/2011 09:45, Joe Botha wrote:
> >>> Hi!
> >>>
> >>> Please consider writing an email to the National Consumer
> Commission with
> >>> your views on how the national opt-out registry should be operated.
> >>> Deadline
> >>> is this Friday.
> >>>
> >>> Some details:
> >>> http://www.swimgeek.com/blog/2011/07/27/ncc-opt-out-registry-
> comments/
> >>>
> >>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> IOZ mailing list
> >> [email protected]
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> >>
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > IOZ mailing list
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> 
> 
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