Prohibited Message Content

SMS has become a highly regulated channel of communication in recent years as a result of elevated levels of spam across all messaging platforms. In order to protect individuals from unwanted messages, major U.S. mobile carriers have worked with the Cellular Telephone Industries Association (CTIA) to establish a set of guidelines referred to as Messaging Best Practices and Principles. These guidelines provide an overview of messaging behaviors and content that is strictly prohibited. 

As a result, the communication industry as a whole is being pushed to leverage automated flagging for prohibited content to prevent their delivery. Prohibited content includes:

• Illegal Substances: Follows federal regulations. 
• Gambling: Follows federal regulations.
• Sweepstakes/Contests: Sweepstakes are characterized by the element of chance and the awarding of a prize. Both state and federal laws regulate sweepstakes.
• High-risk financial services: These may include payday loans, third-party auto or mortgage loans, student loans, and cryptocurrency.
• Third-party lead generation services: Includes companies that buy, sell, or share consumer information
• “Get rich quick” schemes or multi-level marketing: Commonly characterized as spam.