Viacom Accused of Allegedly Spamming Mobile Users
According to published reports Tuesday, Viacom may be threatened with a potential class-action lawsuit stemming from claims that the global mass media company sent unwanted text messages promoting a number of Viacom projects.
Erin Mock, a resident of the state of Tennessee, filed a complaint in federal court asserting that Viacom violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act by allegedly spamming her mobile device.
The text messages included ads promoting MTV programming.
The law referenced specifically prohibits companies from sending SMS messages without prior consent from the recipient.
Damages upwards of $1,500 per incident could be awarded.
Mock says she initially provided her cell phone number to Viacom in response to an ad urging people to vote via text for their favorite Video Music Awards nominees. She says that the ad, which aired during the MTV’s 2011 broadcast of the Video Music Awards, didn’t warn people that voting would subject them to “future text spam advertisements.”
Over the next four weeks, Mock says she received several text messages promoting everything from Jersey Shore to Real World – two popular MTV programs.
“The TCPA was designed to prevent calls and messages like the ones described within this complaint and to protect the privacy of citizens,” Mock asserted in the lawsuit.
Viacom is yest to issue a formal response to the suit and its underlying claims.
Mock is seeking both monetary damages and an injunction against Viacom.
