We get that unwanted texts can be frustrating. Especially when it’s a message you don’t agree with.
Some political parties have been sending text messages at random to Australian mobile numbers featuring their campaign messaging.
These messages often contain short slogans or links to campaign websites.
If you have received one of these messages, we’d like you to know first and foremost that Telstra didn’t send it, and we did not share your details with a third party to facilitate the text message campaign.
If you’re wondering how you received it without opting in, some organisations have said they use a random number generator to target the text.
As a telco, we don’t have the authority to block messages from political parties.
The ACMA’s guidance on the Spam Act states that, in most instance, an organisation must have your express or implied consent before they can send you marketing messages, and have a way to stop the messages if you don’t want to receive them anymore.
However, some organisations can still send messages without having your consent to do so. This includes registered charities; education institutions; government bodies, and political parties.
You can learn more about what constitutes a spam message under the law at the ACMA’s website.
While the law doesn’t allow us to block these political text messages, iOS and Android devices both allow you to block a particular number from texting your device. These methods may not block all the messages from this campaign, but it may still be helpful.
To view and manage your list of blocked contacts and phone numbers, go to Settings > Messages > Blocked Contacts.
On an iPhone you can also filter your messages, so that numbers not in your contacts are sent to a separate list. Find out more at Apple Support.
Find out more at Google Support.
Keep in mind that these messages can originate from a variety of different numbers, so blocking one doesn’t block the whole campaign.
For information about the Spam Act, and some actions you can take if you receive unwanted marketing texts or emails, visit the ACMA website.
The ACMA regulates the Spam Act which defines Spam (and specifically excludes messages from political parties) and the AEC regulates political messages.
