Tackling the sticky spam problem

Last week, the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) Inspectorate gathered to discuss sanction measures towards Ha Thanh Technology Development JSC, the owner of 8709 numeric chain, for illegal spam mail distribution, following governmental Decree 77/2012/ND-CP of October 5, 2012 to combat spam mails which came into force from outset of 2013.

The Inspectorate found that the company had joined hands with two other firms- E-way JSC and Lac Hong Communication - for digital content services provision, including illegal content and use of software that could deduct money illegally from mobile phone user accounts.

In fact, when the phone users activate the software and log onto websites with stories, the phone will automatically gave a message to Ha Thanh Company’s 8709 numeric chain without notice to users about the service fees they would incur. Ha Thanh Company earned VND27 billion ($1.2 million) revenue from the service within a year.

The case of Ha Thanh was one of over 50 violations the MIC Inspectorate, in cooperation with Vietnam Computer Emergency Response Centre (VNCERT) and Ministry of Public Security’s Police Department Against Hi-tech Crime (C50), had recently detected.

Marginal profits against slight sanction measures are seen as the main cause behind exploding cases involving spam mail services.

MIC statistics showed that the profits from spam mail provision climbed to VND7 trillion ($333 million) in 2011.

Around 9.8 million spam mails were sent to Vietnamese mobile phone users on average every day. Assuming each spam message costs VND300, each day content service providers (CSP) could garner around VND3 billion ($143,000) in revenue, according to a Bkav Network Security Company survey in late 2012.  

From 2009 up to now, VNCERT has teamed up with telecom businesses to put into sanctions around 300 cases in which violators forwarded spams through diverse numeric chains like 8xxx, 7xxx, 6xxx and 1900xxxx.

About 50 CSPs were put under radar screens of the MIC Inspectorate, in cooperation with VNCERT and C50, in 2012, according to MIC Chief Inspector Nguyen Van Hung.

Accordingly, most CSPs were found to incur violations, mainly distribution of spam mails and services carrying illegal contents. Fine amounts reached VND2.4 billion ($114,000) and three CSPs incurred services provision temporarily suspended.

Decree 77/2012/ND-CP fighting spam mails has scaled up fine amounts and added additional sanction measures towards violations in this aspect. Fines may reach up to VND80 million ($3,800) for violations like collection of wrong fee amount. For severe violations, the CSPs may have their services provision temporarily or permanently suspended.

In a bid to put an end to spam mail threat, the MIC is reportedly devising a mechanism on management, provision and withdrawal of numeric chains, not allowing telcos to provide numeric chains to CSPs as currently.

In the meantime, the MIC mulls over specific regulations on message fees applicable to CSPs to balance the interests among relevant businesses.