Tuesday, December 6, 2011

The Wisdom Fund wrongly accused of SPAM, suspends mailings

We've been accused of spam, blacklisted by Barracuda, and have suspended mailings to our list members. For all we know, accusations of spam may be coming from those who want to shut us down.

The Wisdom Fund is a registered nonprofit corporation (EIN # 54-1755689) established in 1995. Our email is non-commercial. The SPAM Act does not apply to our mail.

Nevertheless, we attempt to follow the Act. Our mailing list was developed over 15 years using a variety of methods. Lately, we moved to Direct Mail, all Subscribe and Unscubscribe requests are handled by http://ethreesoftware.com, and in the last few months we've been placing the Unsubscribe link prominently at the top of our mail — we used to place it at the bottom.

There's a guide to the FCC rules at http://business.ftc.gov/documents/bus61-can-spam-act-compliance-guide-business. The actual text of the Act is at http://www.ftc.gov/os/caselist/0723041/canspam.pdf.

However, while the Act applies to senders, Internet Service Providers are apparently exempt from it, and they do not differentiate between commercial mail and non-commercial mail. They blacklist non-commercial mailers using the same rules they use for commercial mailers.

Anyone on our mailing list can complain they've received SPAM, and ISP's may blacklist any account based upon mere accusations — just three in one year may be enough. Apparently, there's no law that prevents ISPs from blacklisting anyone.

The sender is guilty unless proven innocent.

Proving yourself innocent can be a very lengthly process. Over the years, we've had to fight this battle with Yahoo and others http://twforg.blogspot.com/2010/06/net-neutrality-our-experience-with.html.

It's very time consuming, and unless one has an ISP battling with you, it may be a losing battle.

Our ISP since 1995, Heller Information Services, has been very accommodating, but there's a limit to the time and expense they will incur on our behalf.

One begins to wonder if the U.S. is any different from those authoritarian regimes we accuse of censorship.

Enver Masud

Founder and CEO
The Wisdom Fund
TWF.org

9 comments:

Muslim said...

I am deeply disappointed and quite annoyed at this suppression of freedom!

Inshallah, His help will come soon!

Shariq

Muslim said...

I think you are right. America is just another banana republic in good disguise!

fellah1967 said...

Very sad about this. But I sincerely hope that I will still be getting your articles. Inshallah, God will help you always.....ameen

nizar

Anonymous said...

I am disturbed by the fact that you are accused of SPAM. I have found your e-mails socially responsible, informative, analytical and necessary for the difficult times that we in the US and the rest of the world are going through. I hope you will find your way not to suspend your e-mails.
S.N.,E.P.

Anonymous said...

How does one continue to receive your information if one is old & doesn't know how to do a Twitter?

Unknown said...

Unfortunate, to say the least.
MHZ

MHusainZ said...

Unfortunate, to say the least.

Sabyasachi Chatterjee said...

Dear Officer in Charge,
The Wisdom Fund

I, Sabyasachi Chatterjee form India, am a email subscriber of The Wisdom Fund for more than one year. My authentic Email ID is: me.in.myself@gmail.com and I have been a regular reader of the issues that are sent to my Email inbox. Just now I have come to know that The Wisdom Fund has been much unjustifiably categorised as spamming. I do much vehemently oppose such an action. I, being a non-Muslim human rights activist and teacher, have never ever got any problem with the issues sent to me to my Email inbox. Rather, I get enriched by the contents of the issues sent by The Wisdom Fund. I heartily condemn such an action that demoralize the readers' zeal to read the information and learn the truth.

Also, I apprehend that now onwards I may be deprived of getting the regular emails from The Wisdom Fund organization, due to such deterrence.

I urge you to ensure me that I would get the regular issues of The Wisdom Fund sent to my Email inbox, and they would not go to my spam folder.

With earnest solidarity,
Sabyasachi Chatterjee.
me.in.myself@gmail.com
India.

Anonymous said...

As salam alaikum,
I have always respected and enjoyed your postings, can you not post direct to subscribers who sign up to receive your emails?
I don't think i can be bothered with twitter etc. I'm 73 years old and while an ex IT manager it is all too much.
There seem to be many opponents to the truth .....
In sadness but praying for your continued success,
Your brother in islam
Daud R Matthews