Bahrain Phone Users Can Block Unsolicited Text Messages

Bahrain’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) sais customers have the right to stop unwanted commercial messages and submit complaints and inquiries electronically.

 “Consumers have the ability to stop receiving unwanted commercial messages and can easily opt out from receiving any unwanted messages by contacting their services providers,” the authority said.

Under the Bulk Commercial Messages Regulation issued by TRA last year, licensed operators are obliged to provide a mechanism for consumers to block unwanted commercial messages.

“TRA has mandated this service on mobile licensed operators to promote consumer privacy,” Ghada Al Qassab, TRA’s Consumer Affairs and Media Director, said. “Unlike social media messages, commercial bulk messages (SMS and MMS) are pushed to consumers at any time and in many cases without their consents which required TRA to intervene and regulate this commercial activity with a prober legal and technical regulation.”

According to the official, some consumers see promotional messages as a breach of their privacy while some consider them as a source of information.

“As such TRA balances these needs and concerns by introducing some safeguards to provide consumers with the choice of receiving or blocking such messages. We encourage consumers who wish to stop any message to contact their service providers and follow the easy steps to block unwanted messages without incurring any cost.”

A Customer Relationships Management System on TRA’s website can be used by consumers to submit their complaints and inquires, she said.

“Consumers facing problems with their service providers and telecommunications services may now file a complaint using the Customer Relationships Management System via TRA’s website.”