I Don’t Think It Is News That Australians Are Keen To Block Marketing Access To Their Private Information, But There Is More To It That.

This appeared last week.

Aussies concerned about how personal details are used for marketing

By Chris Coughlan

Australians want more control over how their information is used by businesses to contact them for marketing, according to new research released by the ACMA.

The research found that in the 6 months leading up to the survey, 98% of Australians received some form of unsolicited communication and that more than 7 in 10 Australians would like more control over the communications they receive. Only one in 10 of those surveyed felt they always have control over how their information is used by business to sell or promote something.

Of Australians who asked a business to stop contacting them, 56% had trouble unsubscribing and 59% said they were still contacted after unsubscribing, the ACMA advised.

The research also showed that scam calls were the most prevalent type of unwanted communication received, with 86% of Australians reporting that they had a scam call in the 6 months before the survey and 4 in 10 Australians receiving them at least weekly.

Over the past 18 months, the ACMA says that businesses have paid $1,899,120 in ACMA-issued infringement notices for breaking spam and telemarketing laws.

The ACMA says it has also accepted 12 court-enforceable undertakings and issued 8 formal warnings to businesses.

More here:

https://itwire.com/technology-regulation/aussies-concerned-about-how-personal-details-are-used-for-marketing.html

Here is the ACMA view of its report:

Unsolicited communications in Australia: Consumer experience research 2021

This interactive report highlights Australian consumers’ experience of unsolicited communications in 2021.

View the Unsolicited communications in Australia report.

The research explores the incidence, type, impact and management of unsolicited communications. It examines the different forms of unsolicited contact (calls, emails and texts) and how they occur, including scams.

We looked at the impact of unsolicited communications, and how they negatively affect many Australians. They undermine confidence in our  networks and legitimate marketing practices.

We also explored consumers’ experience of, and expectations about, consent to receive marketing communications.

About the research

This research is part of the ACMA research program, which provides evidence to inform our decision-making. The findings will help us to deliver regulatory, education, and compliance and enforcement activities. Protecting telco customers is an ACMA compliance priority.

Fieldwork was conducted between July and August 2021.

Accessing the data

Download the research questionnaire and accessibility file for the interactive report below.

If you're having trouble viewing the interactive report, please try a different web browser or contact us.

Questionnaire – Unsolicited communications in Australia (161.83 KB)

Accessibility file – Unsolicited communications in Australia (241.85 KB)

Here is the link to the report:

https://www.acma.gov.au/publications/2022-01/report/unsolicited-communications-australia-consumer-experience-research-2021

The report is interesting as it covers contact by e-mail, text, phone (mobile and fixed) and covers marketing, scams and so on!

It certainly seems to me we are being to many more scam calls and spam emails than is even 1/2 reasonable!

Well worth a browse of the report which is nice and current!

David.