Consumer Ombudsman calls on Nema to comply with marketing laws after targeting students in Vágur, Porkeri, and Sumbiar

The Consumer Ombudsman has called on Nema to ensure compliance with marketing laws moving forward. The Ombudsman states that the telecommunications provider has violated good marketing practices by targeting children and young people, acting against Article 8, Section 1, which pertains to advertising aimed at minors.

Businesses should not use children and youth in sales and marketing strategies, nor should they enlist minors to persuade friends, parents, or others to purchase specific goods or services that benefit the youth involved.

The situation revolves around a letter from Nema sent to seventh-grade students at schools in Vágur, Porkeri, and Sumbiar. In the letter, students were encouraged to assist Nema in attracting more customers by offering incentives where the value of any customer brought in would directly benefit the class.

The reason for the letter was that Nema received a funding request from one of the parents seeking to raise money for a class trip. Rather than providing direct financial support, Nema proposed alternative methods to help raise funds in collaboration with them.

Rannvá Sólheim of the Consumer Ombudsman remarked, “This is a violation of marketing legislation.” However, the Ombudsman has decided not to pursue the matter further, as Nema acknowledged it was a mistake to address the letter to the children when it was intended for the parents. Nema promptly retracted the letter.