Telecom authority stresses subscribers’ privacy

Manama: Bahrain Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has insisted that it never gave mobile subscribers’ data to marketing companies.

A report in a local daily highlighted the resentment expressed by subscribers angered by the flood of unwanted commercial messages and TRA sought to clarify it had no role.

Selling or providing the data would be a violation of the law and against the spirit of competition between the various telecommunication companies operating in the country, the TRA said in a statement on Thursday.

According to the authority, some of the messages have as their sources networks operating overseas that do not fall under the Bahraini legislation.

However, the TRA said that subscribers could complain to providers.

In July, the TRA said that it introduced a new service that enables consumers to stop unwanted commercial messages from reaching their mobiles and to submit complaints electronically.

“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,” Gada Al Qasab, TRA consumer affairs and media director, said.

“Unlike social media messages, commercial bulk messages are pushed to consumers at any time and in many cases without their consent which required the TRA to intervene and regulate this commercial activity with a proper legal and technical regulation,” the TRA said.

“Some consumers see promotional messages as a breach of their privacy while some consider them as a source of information. TRA balances these needs and concerns by introducing some safeguards to provide consumers with the choice of receiving or blocking such messages.”

The authority said that consumers could submit their complaints and enquiries to the TRA through a customer relationships management system.

People in Bahrain have been complaining about the volume and timing of the messages.

“The problem is that I sometimes get the messages when I am abroad and this is not good for my budget,” Hafedh Mohammad, a ministry employee, said. “I am often forced to keep my phone switched off to avoid the commercial messages,” he said.

However, some people said that they welcomed the messages as a form of information about discounts and special deals.

“The information is provided promptly and easily. Those who do not like the SMS should simply delete it,” Amal who works for a private company said.