Forbidden message categories for SMS and MMS in the US and Canada

SMS Compliance

Forbidden Message Categories for SMS and MMS in the US and Canada

Understand prohibited message types and compliance requirements to maintain reliable SMS and MMS delivery for your business communications.What You'll Learn

Mobile carriers in the United States and Canada enforce strict regulations on SMS and MMS messaging to protect consumers. Certain message categories are completely prohibited, and violations can result in delivery failures, phone number suspension, or permanent blocking.

This article explains which message types are forbidden, why these restrictions exist, and how to ensure your business communications remain compliant with carrier regulations.

Table of Contents1Why Carriers Restrict Certain Message Types2Prohibited Message Categories3Consequences of Sending Prohibited Messages4Best Practices for Compliance5Frequently Asked Questions1

Why Carriers Restrict Certain Message Types

Mobile carriers in North America implement message content restrictions to protect consumers from harmful, illegal, or fraudulent communications. These regulations are enforced by the CTIA (Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association) and individual carrier policies.

The restrictions serve several important purposes:

Consumer Protection, Prevents exposure to illegal products, scams, and fraudulent schemesLegal Compliance, Ensures messaging channels comply with federal and state lawsNetwork Integrity, Maintains the reliability and trustworthiness of SMS/MMS platformsSpam Prevention, Reduces unwanted and harmful messaging traffic

All businesses using SMS and MMS in Open Doors must comply with these carrier-enforced restrictions. Non-compliance can result in immediate service disruption.

2

Prohibited Message Categories

The following message types are strictly forbidden for SMS and MMS messaging in the United States and Canada. Sending any of these message categories will result in enforcement action.

Category 1Cannabis

Any messages related to cannabis products, dispensaries, CBD products, or related paraphernalia are prohibited. This includes legal cannabis businesses operating under state licenses. Federal law classifies cannabis as a controlled substance, making it ineligible for SMS/MMS promotion regardless of state-level legalization.

Category 2Tobacco and Vape Products

Messages promoting cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, vaping devices, e-cigarettes, vape liquids, or any tobacco-related products are not permitted. This restriction applies to all forms of tobacco and nicotine delivery systems.

Category 3S.H.A.F.T. Industries

SHAFT is an industry acronym covering multiple high-risk categories that are permanently blocked from SMS/MMS messaging:

• Sex: Adult content, pornography, escort services, sexual wellness products
• Hate: Content promoting discrimination, violence, or hatred toward any group
• Alcohol: Beer, wine, spirits, liquor stores, bars promoting drink specials
• Firearms: Guns, ammunition, weapons, firearm accessories, shooting ranges
• Tobacco: Covered separately above, but included in SHAFT classification

Category 4Gambling and Gaming

Messages related to casinos, sports betting, online gambling platforms, poker rooms, lottery services, sweepstakes requiring payment, or any form of wagering are prohibited. This includes both legal and illegal gambling operations.

Category 5Cryptocurrency and High-Risk Financial Products

Messages promoting cryptocurrency exchanges, crypto investment opportunities, initial coin offerings (ICOs), get-rich-quick schemes, payday loans, debt consolidation services, or unregulated financial products are not allowed.

Category 6Pharmaceuticals and Controlled Substances

Messages offering prescription medications without valid prescriptions, online pharmacies not verified by NABP, controlled substances, or unapproved drug products are strictly forbidden. This includes both legal and illegal pharmaceutical sales.

Category 7Phishing and Fraud

Any messages designed to deceive recipients, steal personal information, impersonate legitimate businesses, create false urgency, or facilitate financial fraud are prohibited. This includes scam messages posing as banks, government agencies, or trusted companies.

Category 8Illegal Activities

Messages promoting any illegal activity, including counterfeit goods, stolen merchandise, illegal services, or content that violates federal or state laws, are completely forbidden.

Important

Even if a business is operating legally under state or local law, federal regulations and carrier policies may still prohibit SMS/MMS messaging for that industry. State-level legalization does not override carrier restrictions.

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Consequences of Sending Prohibited Messages

Violations of carrier content policies result in immediate and severe enforcement actions. Carriers use automated filtering systems and manual review processes to detect prohibited content.

When prohibited messages are detected, the following consequences may occur:

Message Blocking, Individual messages containing forbidden content are blocked and never delivered to recipientsPhone Number Suspension, The sending phone number is temporarily or permanently suspended from sending any messagesAccount Deactivation, Repeated violations can result in complete account suspension across all messaging servicesCarrier Blacklisting, Your business may be permanently banned from purchasing new phone numbers or messaging servicesLegal Action, Severe or intentional violations may result in legal consequences including fines and lawsuitsNo Appeal Process

In most cases, carrier enforcement actions cannot be reversed or appealed. Once a phone number is suspended for prohibited content, it is typically permanently deactivated. You will need to obtain a new phone number and rebuild your messaging reputation from scratch.

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Best Practices for Compliance

Follow these guidelines to ensure your SMS and MMS messaging remains compliant with carrier regulations:

Step 1Review Your Business Category

Before launching any SMS or MMS campaign, verify that your business does not operate in a prohibited industry. If your business category is restricted, do not attempt to use SMS/MMS for marketing or customer communication.

Step 2Audit Your Message Content

Review all message templates, automated workflows, and broadcast campaigns to ensure they do not contain references to prohibited products or services. Remove any language that could be interpreted as promoting forbidden categories.

Step 3Train Your Team

Ensure that all team members who send messages understand prohibited content categories. Create internal guidelines and approval processes for message content to prevent accidental violations.

Step 4Monitor Third-Party Integrations

If you use automation tools or integrate with external platforms, verify that these systems do not inject prohibited content into your messages. You remain responsible for all messages sent from your phone numbers regardless of the source.

Step 5Stay Updated on Regulations

Carrier policies and regulations change regularly. Subscribe to compliance updates and periodically review your messaging practices to ensure ongoing compliance with current standards.

Compliance Tip

When in doubt about whether content is permitted, choose a more conservative approach. It is always safer to exclude questionable content than risk account suspension. Consider using alternative communication channels like email for sensitive topics.

Need Help?

If you have questions about whether your business or message content is compliant with carrier regulations:

• Navigate to Settings → Phone Numbers in your Open Doors account
• Click the support icon to access compliance resources and documentation
• Contact support before launching campaigns in regulated industries
• Request a compliance review if you are unsure about specific message content

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I send messages about my legal cannabis dispensary if cannabis is legal in my state?No. Cannabis remains a federally controlled substance in the United States, and carrier policies prohibit cannabis-related messaging regardless of state-level legalization. This restriction applies to all cannabis products including CBD, hemp derivatives, and related paraphernalia.Q: What happens if I accidentally send a message that contains prohibited content?Even accidental violations can result in phone number suspension. Carriers use automated filtering that cannot distinguish between intentional and unintentional violations. Always review message content carefully before sending. If you realize a violation has occurred, stop sending immediately and contact support.Q: Can I promote a bar or restaurant that serves alcohol?You can send messages about your restaurant or bar as a dining establishment, but you cannot use SMS/MMS to promote alcoholic beverages, drink specials, happy hour offers, or encourage alcohol consumption. Focus messages on food, events, and general business information rather than alcohol sales.Q: Are there alternatives to SMS/MMS for businesses in restricted industries?Yes. Consider using email marketing, in-app notifications, social media messaging, or postal mail for businesses in prohibited categories. These channels have different regulatory requirements and may allow content that is forbidden in SMS/MMS.Q: Will Open Doors warn me before sending prohibited content?Open Doors includes compliance monitoring, but ultimate responsibility for message content rests with you. While the platform may flag obvious violations, automated systems cannot catch every potential issue. Always review your content against prohibited categories before sending.Q: Can a suspended phone number be reactivated?In most cases, no. Once a carrier suspends a phone number for prohibited content violations, the suspension is permanent. You will need to acquire a new phone number and take steps to prevent future violations. Some carriers maintain blacklists that may prevent you from purchasing new numbers if violations are severe or repeated.Q: Do these restrictions apply to both marketing messages and transactional messages?Yes. Prohibited content categories apply to all message types including marketing campaigns, automated workflows, appointment reminders, and one-to-one conversations. The message purpose does not override carrier content restrictions.Q: Are regulations different in Canada compared to the United States?While specific regulations vary slightly between countries, major Canadian carriers enforce similar content restrictions to US carriers. The prohibited categories listed in this article apply to messaging in both the United States and Canada. Always comply with the most restrictive interpretation when operating cross-border.