Forbidden message categories for SMS & MMS in the US & Canada
As a reference, the following messaging categories are not allowed on SMS or MMS in the United States and Canada.
Category | Examples | Notes |
High-risk financial services |
| “Third-party” means originating from any party other than the one which will service the loan. |
Third-party lead generation services | Companies that buy, sell, or share consumer information. | Â |
Debt collection or forgiveness |
| “Third-party” means originating from any party other than the one who is owed the debt. For example, a hospital could send messages regarding bills for its own patients, assuming they provided opt-in to receive that messaging. |
“Get rich quick” schemes |
| This is different from outreach about employment as a result of compliant opt-in practices, messages from brokerages to their members, investment news alerts, or other investment-related messages. |
Illegal substances |
| Cannabis is federally illegal in the United States. Cannabis businesses will not be permitted to use SMS/MMS messaging in the US, regardless of message content. CBD is federally legal, but is not legal in some US states, so US carriers do not permit messaging related to CBD. Offers for drugs that cannot be sold over-the-counter in the US/Canada are forbidden. |
Gambling |
| Gambling traffic is prohibited in the US and Canada on all number types (Toll Free, Short Code, Long Code). |
"S.H.A.F.T." use cases |
| While Tobacco traffic is prohibited on Toll Free, it is allowed on Short Code, or Long Code, as long as proper age gating procedures are in place. Alcohol traffic is allowed on Toll Free (US only), Short Code, and Long Code, as long as proper age gating procedures are in place. Firearms and Vaping-related traffic is prohibited. |
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