Pizza Hut has been fined $2.5 million for bombarding Australian phones with spam text messages and emails.
The restaurant chain sent more than 10 million marketing messages in violation of industry standards between January and May 2023, according to an investigation by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (AMCA).
More than 5.94 million of those text messages and emails were to customers who had not consented or had withdrawn their consent to receive marketing messages.
Another 4.36 million messages were sent to customers without the option to unsubscribe from the content.
Pizza Hut Australia was fined $2.5 million for sending more than 10 million messages to customers that violated anti-spam rules between January and May 2023.
ACMA’s action against Pizza Hut is the latest application of the law after it also went after companies such as DoorDash, Ticketek, Uber and Kmart.
A member of the authority, Samantha Yorke, said spam messages from Pizza Hut had frustrated several customers.
“Some of the customers involved attempted to unsubscribe multiple times and received multiple messages after attempts were made to stop them,” Yorke said in a statement.
‘The public expects more from companies that use their data.
“They have the right not to be sent marketing messages if they have not given their consent or have chosen to unsubscribe.”
He added that anti-spam rules have been in place for more than 20 years and that “there is simply no excuse for not defending customers’ rights.”
“It is particularly disappointing that well-known companies with a large customer base are failing to meet their obligations as Pizza Hut has done,” Ms Yorke said.
The restaurant chain sent text messages and emails to customers who had not consented, declined consent, or had not been given the opportunity to consent to the marketing messages (file image)
ACMA also accepted a three-year court undertaking from Pizza Hut to appoint an independent consultant to oversee compliance with spam rules.
The restaurant chain must also periodically report to the authority.
“We help people who receive unwanted spam by cracking down on companies that do not comply with direct marketing laws,” Ms Yorke said.
“Penalties for violations can be very serious and all companies that engage in electronic marketing should check that their compliance systems are working effectively to avoid spamming customers.”
The authority’s enforcement of spam rules has resulted in more than $15 million in fines over the past 18 months.