AFTERSHIP MARKETING SMS – COUNTRY-SPECIFIC GUIDELINES

Users must ensure that their use of AfterShip Marketing SMS complies with all applicable laws and regulations, as well as AfterShip’s Terms of Service, Acceptable Use Policy, SMS Content Policy, and relevant industry standards, including those imposed by telecommunications providers. AfterShip strongly encourages Users to consult with qualified legal counsel to ensure compliance in all jurisdictions in which they operate.

Capitalized terms used but not defined in these Guidelines have the meanings ascribed to them in the AfterShip SMS Content Policy.

Australia

• Marketing related to gambling is strictly prohibited.

• Comply with the SPAM Act 2003:

  • Obtain valid consent.

  • Identify the sender in each message.

  • Provide a free or low-cost method for opting out.

• Limit communications to local daytime hours.

• Support HELP/STOP functionality in the End-User’s local language.

• Observe local do-not-disturb registries.

Canada

• Use short codes or verified toll-free numbers to improve delivery.

• Obtain opt-in consent from End-Users prior to sending messages.

• Support HELP/STOP commands in the End-User’s local language.

• Do not contact End-Users listed on do-not-call registries.

• SMS messages must be limited to 160 ASCII characters for proper delivery.

European Union

• Obtain valid, express opt-in consent (pre-checked boxes do not meet this standard).

• Avoid purposes unrelated to the original basis for consent.

• Clearly identify the sender and offer a straightforward opt-out method.

• Ensure lawful processing, apply data minimisation, and ensure compatibility with original consent.

• Clearly communicate the right to object, which must be exercisable at any time and without charge.

• Comply fully with GDPR and relevant E.U. electronic marketing regulations.

• Limit communications to the recipient’s local daytime hours.

• Support HELP/STOP commands in the recipient’s local language.

• Refrain from contacting minors or those listed in do-not-disturb registries.

• Retain documentation of consent and verify lawful sourcing of all marketing lists.

France-Specific Requirements

• Do not send marketing SMS between 22:00 and 10:00, on Sundays, or on French public holidays.

• Use of web links is acceptable for opt-out purposes.

• Bouygues Telecom does not support Unicode encoding for A2P SMS; all messages are converted to GSM format.

• Do not target minors with SMS marketing.

• When using purchased marketing lists, Users must inform Data Subjects, verify their informed consent to receive marketing, and maintain evidence of such consent.

New Zealand

• Obtain express opt-in consent from End-Users.

• Provide a clear and accessible unsubscribe mechanism.

• Identify the sender with accurate contact information.

• Where applicable, inform End-Users how Personal Data is used in conjunction with behavioural data.

• Restrict messaging to local daytime hours unless justified by urgency.

• Support HELP/STOP keywords in the recipient’s local language.

• Prohibit use of address-harvesting software or lists generated thereby.

• Ensure purchased marketing lists are lawful, with express or inferred consent, and inform End-Users of the data source.

United Kingdom

• Obtain opt-in consent through an affirmative action (e.g., pre-checked boxes are invalid).

• Clearly state the sender’s identity and provide a simple opt-out mechanism.

• Ensure messaging purpose aligns with the original consent.

• Respect the right to object; present this right separately and clearly.

• Apply data minimisation principles, collecting only data necessary for the intended purpose.

• Comply with UK GDPR and applicable UK marketing regulations.

• Limit communications to local daytime hours.

• Honour HELP/STOP commands and observe do-not-disturb registries.

United States

• Obtain explicit opt-in consent from each End-User before sending any marketing or non-essential messages.

• Clearly identify the User in each message.

• Include a functional mechanism for End-Users to opt out of future messages.

• Inform End-Users of the message’s nature, frequency, applicable rates, and any relevant terms.

• Limit communications to End-Users’ local daytime hours.

• Comply with the National Do Not Call Registry and maintain an internal do-not-call list.

• Cease communications to reassigned telephone numbers.

• Certain urgent alerts (e.g., fraud detection) may be permitted without prior consent but must include an opt-out option.

• U.S. telecommunications providers may impose fees for non-compliant traffic. Notably, T-Mobile imposes the following pass-through charges:

  • US$1,000 for 10DLC program evasion (e.g., snowshoeing or unauthorized number use).

  • US$10,000 per instance of content violation, including SHAFT content, spam, phishing, and other severity-level violations as defined by CTIA.

• Do not use unsupported characters, such as the euro symbol (€), in U.S. messages.