[RFC] Unsubscribe and Subscribe Mass Email and Email Notifications

[jsebean]

Currently, phpBB's mass emailing feature does not have an unsubscribe mechanism built into mass emails sent from the ACP, even though a number of countries may require such functionality, like CAN-SPAM in the US. Additionally, Canada's recent antispam legislation (CASL) requires not only an unsubscribe functionality but specifically requires OPT-In as well, or be subject to up to a $5M fine for organizations or $1M for individuals .

phpBB should add in unsubscribe functionality to it's mass email, as well as email notifications to allow users to easily unsubscribe to such messages without having to login and follow a complex process in the UCP. This is not only convenient, but in some cases required by law in some jurisdictions, especially if an admin is sending "marketing" like emails from the ACP.

It would also be beneficial to us Canadian's to have some sort of "CASL compliance" feature (similar how there is a COPPA feature) that would give administrators the option to show a selection box on the registration page so the user can decide to opt in (not opt out as required by CASL) to mass emails, and while not required by CASL, an opt in for notifications emails as well. It could go along with Pony's suggestion here with regards to having a "Legal" section in the ACP where all these features could be grouped.

[Pony99CA]

A reasonable manual solution would be to create a Can receive Mass E-mails permission (if one doesn't already exist). Then the Admin would create a user-joinable "No Mass E-mail" group that has that permission set to Never (and every other permission set to No).

Steve

[jsebean]

A reasonable manual solution would be to create a Can receive Mass E-mails permission (if one doesn't already exist). Then the Admin would create a user-joinable "No Mass E-mail" group that has that permission set to Never (and every other permission set to No).

Steve

That could be done, though I don't see how that would satisfy CAN-SPAM and CASL. Both laws require that, at least for marketing-type emails, (And sending an email about your board and what's going on there would count) there must be a unsubscribe link that doesn't require a lot of hops - eg. You shouldn't have to login, go to profile, join groups, etc. Also there would be no option on the registration page for people to specifically opt-in (which is required in Canada), rather than opt-out.

You also need to log the date consent was given as well. Perhaps such logging could go along with You and Nicofuma's suggestion here.

That said, not only that, but even now with phpBB notifications, I prefer to have them in the notification area and not in emails, like I got from this topic when I subscribed. It's much more convenient to simply click a link at the bottom of the email to unsubscribe.

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Side not, I wouldn't even ask for such features if our government wasn't so hell bent on making laws that screws with the internet and makes everyone have to change everything for mundane reasons that isn't even going to stop those notorious valium and ugg boot ads in your inbox. Yet it seems to be the new thing all around the world.