Do-Not-Call registry to start by end of next year

By the end of next year, consumers can start listing their phone numbers on a Do-Not-Call (DNC) Registry to opt out of intrusive marketing messages.

The national registry - which allows for the screening out of all unsolicited telemarketing calls, faxes and text messages - is a key part of a new data protection law that will be introduced in the third quarter of this year.

Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts Yaacob Ibrahim announced the new timelines during the debate over his ministry's Budget on Friday. He was responding to concerns raised by MPs David Ong (Jurong GRC), Arthur Fong (West Coast GRC) and Non-Constituency MP Lina Chiam over insufficient protection of consumers' data.

Dr Yaacob said that the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (Mica) is still codifying the law which will prohibit unnecessary collection, unauthorised use and disclosure of personal data.