South Africa’s Information Regulator has decided that unwanted telemarketing amounts to ‘electronic communication’ and must be regulated in terms of the Protection of Personal Information Act.
The Regulator has warned offenders who are specifically told by consumers not to contact them that they will potentially face fines up to R10 million or dramatically even jail time.
So, if you are contacted than then opt out of being called and someone keeps phoning you they can now get into big trouble.
The Regulator says they have already begun investigations on their own into 15 businesses that they feel are in danger of breaching the Act and have sent them notices to fix their operations or get into big trouble.
So far, the Information Regulator has already issued a R5mill fine against the Department of Justice & Constitutional Development. They are now fighting over the fine in court.