This HuffPost Canada page is maintained as part of an online archive.

PlentyOfFish Hooks A $48,000 Fine Under Anti-Spam Law

PlentyOfFish Gets Caught In Canada's Anti-Spam Net
Plenty Of Fish

The Vancouver-based dating site PlentyOfFish.com has been fined $48,000 under Canada’s anti-spam legislation.

The CRTC, Canada’s telecom regulator, says the website sent commercial emails to subscribers “that did not contain an unsubscribe mechanism that was set out clearly and prominently, and that could be readily performed.”

The regulator reportedly launched a probe into the website after complaints from the public. In a statement issued Wednesday, the CRTC said PlentyOfFish updated its unsubscribe mechanism once it knew the regulator was investigating.

The fine was levied under Canada’s new anti-spam law, which went into effect last year and, among other things, requires mass commercial emails to include an unsubscribe mechanism.

“Prior to the coming into force of Canada's anti-spam law, the CRTC conducted numerous outreach sessions and issued guidance material on interpretation of the new requirements,” the CRTC’s head of compliance, Manon Bombardier, said in a statement.

"Plentyoffish Media erred by sending commercial electronic messages to its registered users with unsubscribe mechanisms that were not in compliance with the law."

PlentyOfFish bills itself as the world’s largest online dating site and boasts of 100 million users, 4 million of them daily.

It was established in Vancouver in 2003, and continues to be headquartered there, employing some 70 people.

Also on HuffPost:

Gluten Free Singles

Bizarre Dating Sites

Close
This HuffPost Canada page is maintained as part of an online archive. If you have questions or concerns, please check our FAQ or contact support@huffpost.com.