Forum reply on The Straits Times Interactive Online, 15 Feb 2014

THE Personal Data Protection Commission assures the public that it will take enforcement action against organisations that have breached the Do Not Call requirements under the Personal Data Protection Act ("Still getting unwanted SMSes after registering number" by Ms Evelyn Wong; Forum Online, Thursday).

Unless an exclusion or exemption under the Act applies (for example, for market research, business-to-business marketing, or where organisations have been given clear consent), individuals who have registered their Singapore telephone numbers with the Do Not Call Registry should stop receiving unsolicited marketing telephone calls, SMSes and faxes.

Those who have registered their numbers with the Registry, but continue to receive unsolicited telemarketing messages from organisations, can lodge a complaint with the Commission on our website, www.pdpc.gov.sg. The Commission will conduct investigations into valid complaints and take enforcement action where the Act has been breached.

When the data protection provisions of the Act come into effect on July 2, organisations will have to obtain an individual's consent to collect, use or disclose his personal data. They will need to notify and seek the individual's consent if it is disclosing personal data (such as telephone numbers) to third-party sellers for marketing or any other purposes.

The Commission will continue to reach out to organisations to help them develop personal data protection capabilities and build on their knowledge of the Act, so that both organisations and consumers will benefit from the personal data protection rules that we have in place.

Amos Tan (Mr)
Director, Communications & Operations
Personal Data Protection Commission