CITC Announces Update to Spam Message Control Regulations

The Communications and Information Technology Commission today announced an update to the spam message control regulations, which aim to improve the regulatory environment for promotional messages and reduce the nuisance caused by such messages.

The spam message control regulations enable users of telecom services to control incoming promotional messages and block unwanted messages, and to more clearly classify other non-promotional message types for service providers and users so as to ensure they reach all users.

The Commission noted the stages of updating the spam message control regulations, which have continued since 1431H, including the issuance of the first version of these regulations, leading up to the launch of the promotional text message reception control service for all users, which featured three options enabling users to block all promotional messages, block them from specific senders while continuing to receive promotional messages from others, or continue with the default setting of receiving all promotional messages.

The Commission confirmed that the promotional message blocking service does not affect the receipt of text messages with service-related content sent to a specific user for the purpose of providing a contracted service, informing them of transactions carried out on that service, or providing a notification such as hospital appointments and the like, or for the purpose of documenting their ownership of the mobile number.

The Commission invited those wishing to learn about the update to the spam message control regulations to visit its website (www.cst.gov.sa)