Chinese mobile spam investigated

2008-04-01

Helen Martin

Virus Bulletin, UK

Editor: Helen Martin

Abstract

200 million Chinese mobile users spammed.

A large-scale SMS spam attack is being investigated in China after unwanted text messages were sent by seven advertising companies to more than 200 million mobile phone users through the China Mobile and China Unicom networks.

The mass spamming was highlighted in an investigation by the state-run China Central Television which was timed to coincide with World Consumer Rights Day.

China’s State Council has promised to carry out a thorough investigation into the spamming, while China Mobile says it will now block SMS messages originating from the seven firms involved. The deputy head of the State Council Office for Rectifying Malpractice encouraged the parties involved to reflect on their actions, saying: ‘We urge the parties concerned to beef up self-scrutiny to correct their wrongdoing, which is profit driven in defiance of public interests.’

China’s Ministry of Information Industry is said to be working alongside other departments to introduce legislation that will clamp down on online and text advertisements.

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