Communications (Telecommunications and Broadcasting) Law (Amendment – Prohibition on Flash SMS Messages) Bill

What does the bill do?

The proposal amends the Communications (Telecommunications and Broadcasting) Law by adding a new definition of a flash message: a message transmitted over a telecommunications network that appears directly on the screen of the recipient's terminal equipment without any active action on their part, and cannot be saved or retrieved except by active removal. The proposal bans advertisers from sending advertising via flash messages without obtaining the recipient's explicit prior consent, on the grounds that these messages appear without advance notice or an option to opt out in advance, and thus give the sender total control over the recipient's attention.