UK "spam" law: need to include unsubscribe link in

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patrikG
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UK "spam" law: need to include unsubscribe link in

Post by patrikG »

Question regarding the UK only is: do you know if it is required by law of the mailing-list maintainer to have an unsubscribe link in emails sent to subscribers of a mailing list?

The only thing I could find regarding in the text of law (passed in early December 2003) was:

http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/si/s ... 032426.htm

(6) Where a request has been made under paragraph (5) for data to be withdrawn from or corrected in a directory, that request shall be treated as having no application in relation to an edition of a directory that was produced before the producer of the directory received the request.

I was under the impression that a mailing list provider/maintainer had to have an unsubscribe link in emails sent out to its subscribers.

Could anyone point me towards a more enlightening resource?
malcolmboston
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Post by malcolmboston »

on the same subject but not an answer

from my experiences it is either very very difficult to unsubscribe and usually include sending dozens of e-mails to them before they just lower there number of e-mails to you
or simply the unsubscribe button doesnt work and you keep getting more spam

plus once one company have your name often they sell it on, so even if you 'unsubscribe' from one potentially a few dozen more will have obtained it by then

i still get around 200 e-mails a day in my yahoo! account al being spam as all my mates know my new address, 90% of which asking if i need a penis extension :lol:

my friend, after getting increasingly annoyed with spam decided to be rather more 'obvious' with his feelings towards spam and now resorts to the messages <span style='color:blue' title='I&#39;m naughty, are you naughty?'>smurf</span> off and/or stop sending me this <span style='color:blue' title='I&#39;m naughty, are you naughty?'>smurf</span>

unfortunately he is yet to realise his words are being answered by a PHP/ASP script and never gets read by anyone human, ah well i think it helps him let off steam anyway :P
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JayBird
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Post by JayBird »

Be careful when clicking unsubscribe links in spam mail becuase sometimes all this does is confirm that your email address is active and they will send you even more spam! Also replying to the causes the same effect.

This doesn't usually apply to legitimate spam from legitimate companies. It probably will apply to the penis elargement and <span style='color:red;text-decoration:blink' title='Alert a moderator!'>grilled spam</span> etc etc emails tho!

Mark
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patrikG
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Post by patrikG »

Thanks for the replies, but coming back to the original question:

does anyone know whether law in the UK requires mailing-list maintainers to include an unsubscribe link in their emails?

P.S.: This has nothing to do with spam, it's about sending out emails to subscribers.
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JAM
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Post by JAM »

I don't master the english language so I don't dare interpert, but perhaps you can find more info here: http://www.spamlaws.com/eu.html (at the bottom).
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twigletmac
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Post by twigletmac »

I think that the place to look may be in the data protection laws - IIRC there is some onus on mailing list owners (electronic and paper based) to allow users to remove their details from the list.

Mac
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Post by McGruff »

(6) Where a request has been made under paragraph (5) for data to be withdrawn from or corrected in a directory, that request shall be treated as having no application in relation to an edition of a directory that was produced before the producer of the directory received the request.
I don't quite get that. Unless you have special precognitive powers or a time machine, how is it possible to request a withdrawal?

[Mcgruff enters company HQ]

"I'd like you to withdraw my data please."

"Sorry sir we can't do that. You're too late.

"What do you mean I'm too late?

"Well sir, you have to ask us to remove it before we enter it into the directory.

"Have you been watching too much Monty Python?

"I am rather fond of the parrot sketch sir.

"I bet you know all the words to the spam song too?

"Maybe some of them, sir, some. I don't really recall.

"It goes: 'spam, spam, spam spam spam,..'

[PR guy starts twitching and looks uncomfortable]

"Hmmmmam hmmum.. look would you stop that sir.

"I'm sorry you're too late. A request to desist must be made before the song begins.

"Ow! sir! That's not fair!

"Spam, spam , spam, spam,..

[The PR guy can stand it no longer. In a sudden explosion of mixed comedic metaphors, he rips off a grey suit to reveal a rather nice set of fishnets and suspenders, in best Dr Frankenfurter style.]

"SPAM SPAM LUVILLY SPAM GAAARGH

[The entire office erupts into a chorus of:]

"WE LOVE SPAM SPAM SPAM LUVERRLEEE SPAAAM
"WE LOVE SPAM SPAM SPAM LUVERRLEEE SPAAAM

[dancing bears and tumbling clowns enter stage right]
[exeunt McGruff, perplexed]
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twigletmac
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Post by twigletmac »

ROFLMAO, data protection in a nutshell...

Mac
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patrikG
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Post by patrikG »

Image

LOL, McG!

Image
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m3mn0n
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Post by m3mn0n »

lol!
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patrikG
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Post by patrikG »

Forgot to say: thanks, JAM, that link is very helpful. I just chuckled so hard about McG's post :)
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