(NC)—New legislation aimed at protecting Canadians from spam, malware and other electronic threats will soon be in force and the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) urges business owners to learn more about what Canada's anti-spam legislation (CASL) means to them.
For example, businesses will need to follow three specific practices to ensure their commercial electronic messages comply with the new law:
• They must have consent, whether express or implied, from the recipient before sending an email, text or other electronic message.
• They must identify themselves and anyone else on whose behalf the message is sent.
• They must include an unsubscribe mechanism for recipients to be able to opt out from future messages.
The CRTC urges businesses to learn more about CASL. Through www.fightspam.gc.ca, Canadian businesses are provided with information to help clarify their roles and obligations under CASL and tips, tools and resources to help them get ready.
“We are committed to protecting Canadians from the harm caused by spam and other electronic threats,” said Andrea Rosen, the CRTC's Chief Compliance and Enforcement Officer. “We want all Canadian businesses – large or small-- to familiarize themselves with CASL, its regulations and our information bulletins. Even though the law is not yet in force, businesses should start preparing now by updating their practices and developing compliance procedures.”
As one of three federal government agencies (along with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner and the Competition Bureau) responsible for enforcing the law, the CRTC will investigate and act against violators. It may impose penalties of as much as $1 million per violation against individuals and as much as $10 million against businesses.
The CRTC will also host the Spam Reporting Centre: a place where consumers and businesses who are victims of spam may file complaints against violators and report spam.
www.newscanada.com
