The Nigerian Communications Commission has stated that it will penalise telemarketers who get unauthorised access to telecom subscribers’ phone numbers for use in their businesses.
It stated that it was untrue that telemarketers get their customers’ phone numbers from the commission.
According to The PUNCH, the NCC disclosed this in a public notice titled, ‘Unauthorised Use of Telecom Subscribers’ Phone Numbers and Other Personal Information by Telemarketers,’ signed by the Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Professor Umar Danbatta.
The commission stated its strict adherence to the principles and regulations governing the safeguarding of privacy for telecommunications service consumers. It emphasised that no service provider or telemarketer is permitted to infringe upon, collect, or utilise subscriber data in any manner without explicit consent from the consumer, unless otherwise stipulated by legal provisions.
It said, “The protection of the data of telecom subscribers by the Commission is guaranteed in Section 35 (1) of the Consumer Code of Practice Regulations, 2007; Section 9 (1) of the Nigerian Communications (Registration of Communications Subscribers) Regulations,2022; and Section 4.2 (a) & (b) of the NCC’s Internet Code of Practice.
“Therefore, any telemarketer involved in harvesting telecom subscribers’ phone numbers and other personal details through dishonest means and using such for commercial purposes without regulatory approval is hereby strongly warned to desist from his illegal act, as anyone found guilty shall be arrested and prosecuted in keeping with the law.”
