DMA to Control Spam by DMA Members 204
SiliconLawyer writes: "The Direct Marketing Association, the major U.S. tradegroup for companies using direct marketing techniques, will reportedly issue guidelines for how its members may and may not use e-mail as a marketing tool. Hopefully, this will influence other marketers toward more responsible use of e-mail. Details are on CNET here."
oh..kay (Score:3, Insightful)
Yeah Right (Score:2, Insightful)
The DMA is all about self-interest, and their particular interest is enabling their members to put as much advertising in front of your nose as possible The only thing they're trying to accomplish here is to look responsive, so that the threat of useful legislation in the area will be less.
Oh, and as for those people foolish enough to sign up for their "voluntary" no-call lists for telemarketers, that's about equivalent to replying to spam; it only confirms that your phone number is legitimate.
Not the Problem (Score:2, Insightful)
Most DMA members understand that opt-in is the best way to keep a happy customer, though some companies might occasionally make mistakes or require opt-out instead, they're not as bad as the ones who won't be affected by this in the slightest. It may not be 100%, but those companies really aren't the biggest problem. I doubt any of the companies who have harvested my email address on Yahoo! and send pr0n spam (with pictures) are members of the DMA.
I think a death penalty for spammers is a good place to start.
Effectiveness? (Score:2, Insightful)
I'm sure the DMA wants to avoid regulations hitting their entire industry, but the facts are that they haven't been effective in the past. Junk faxes - including the infamous ones for more fax toner - are still regularly sent (I get a few every week at home). So, why should anyone reasonably expect anything they do to make a difference now?
Re:Self-Moderation (Score:2, Insightful)
Now, maybe if each piece of spam included a micropayment to my ISP...
Won't work! (Score:3, Insightful)
Second, who trusts the removal links?
Third, what prevents me from grabbing the removal database and using as a verified sucker database?
What would work is that DMA provides an email service that allows a member to submit a list and email to send to them, then they will test the address and if it is ok, then send it.
worthless (Score:2, Insightful)
The majority of the SPAM that's flying around the net isn't even from DMA members. It's all from con and scam artists.
Their move isn't going to change a damn thing in the short or long runs.
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They don't really care about the spam problem (Score:4, Insightful)
So one of the ingenious ways they have of preventing spam is by posting a list of addresses on their website... anyone else see a problem with that? It is obvious to me that they don't really care about the spam problem, they just want to look like they are self-regulating so that congress doesn't interfere with their marketing plans.
Not the trouble makers (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:DMA is really unfair (Score:3, Insightful)
yes, I'm wierd and probably a part of a tiny minority. but I gladly abuse any company that has the gall to call me at 10:30pm and wake my daughter.
I have always wondered.... is telemarketing a part of a companies life cycle when they no longer can attract customers legitimately so they have to try this just before death?
So what (Score:3, Insightful)
So what? Now Amazon and others will be able to send us email and claim they are within the guidelines set forth by the DMA. These guidelines are nothing more than a mechanism to allow them to legitimize their spamming operations.
Here's an idea (Score:5, Insightful)
OK, it's just an spur of the moment thought, so take it easy on me.
This is not enough anyway... (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Self-Moderation (Score:3, Insightful)
No, the DMA's position is that they will spam you until you ask them to stop.
From the article:
> "give consumers notice and choice before sending commercial e-mail "
Translation: "To continue receiving exciting offers from us, you need do nothing! Or you can opt out by jumping through hoops..."
> "...or before selling, sharing or renting their e-mail addresses to a third party"
All that means is that on the web site, or in the spam, there'll be a link to a "Privacy policy" that says "We reserve the right to work with partners to offer you goods and services we think may be of interest..."
> " In addition, commercial e-mail must clearly identify the sender, represent the subject line accurately, and provide contact information."
We won't forge headers. But we'll still spam you.
> " Above all, the marketer must let consumers opt out of further communications in every e-mail. "
"We received your request to be opted out of the FORD-OWNERS93133 mailing campaign."
But tomorrow, you'll get spam as part of the "FORD-OWNERS93134" campaign. You weren't interested in that 2002 Ford Escort with air conditioning, maybe you'll be interested in a 2002 Ford Escort without air conditioning.
Sorry, this is more of the same DMA dreck -- opt-out, not confirmed opt-in. It's spam. And they can shove it up their asses until it carves its initials in tomorrow's turd.
Re:Here's an idea (Score:2, Insightful)
Of course, no one would have to accept the spam, we would still run blacklists like normal...it'd be like a tax on the stupid! Or, alternately, if they don't pay the tax, we'll have a reason to have them arrested.
Re:Yeah Right (Score:3, Insightful)
And that's precisely why we're seeing the DMA tout its own do-not-call registry.
Because they're scared shitless that Congress will be deluged with complaints from citizens who've seen through the scam, and will actually do something about it.
This article about the DMA "please don't spam me" list is more of the same -- they're on the run, and they fear Congress will do to their email spamming dreams what it's threatening to do with their telemarketers by means of an FTC-mandated and government-enforced national Do Not Call registry.
Write your Congressman and tell him that you don't want the fox guarding the henhouse, and to support the FTC's anti-telemarketing proposals.
Re:This is not enough anyway... (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:DMA not really the problem... (Score:3, Insightful)
Unless the DMA itself is sending out the spam (not likely), they have to make the list available to spammers. How else would the list work?
yeah, right, how the DMA protects you... (Score:2, Insightful)
yessir, the DMA is shit hot for our privacy.
why not jump over to the FTC, http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/donotcall/i
if the FTC link is munged up, and I see a space in preview inside the word INDEX, just hit www.ftc.gov and click likely-looking boxes twice to get there.