The Federal Trade Commission, hoping to strengthen cross-border cooperation on anti-spam and Do Not Call enforcement, signed a memorandum of understanding with the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).
The memorandum recognizes the ongoing partnership between the two agencies, which includes several joint Do Not Call enforcement activities. It encourages U.S. and Canadian authorities to expand information exchanges and offer help for cross-border Do Not Call and anti-spam enforcement purposes.The memorandum also encourages staff exchanges and policy-related initiatives, such as Robocall Challenges that have led to crowd-sourced technological solutions to these calls. Under the memorandum, U.S. and Canadian authorities must maintain the confidentiality of information that’s been shared.
"As we see more cross-border fraud, we must often rely on our enforcement partners around the world to help protect U.S. consumers. This agreement will enhance cooperation with the CRTC as we work together to combat illegal telemarketing and spam,” said FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez.
The CRTC enforces the Canadian Anti-Spam Law, which became effective in 2014. Among other things, the law prohibits the sending of unsolicited commercial email and allows Canadian authorities to provide investigative assistance to foreign enforcement agencies, including the FTC.
