MADINA: Mobile phone users across the Kingdom can only receive two monthly SMS text messages soliciting donations for charities, a government committee has decided. The committee, made up of representatives from six government departments, also agreed that charitable organizations should not send text requests for donations between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m., and during Ramadan, between 12 a.m. to 12 p.m., according to a source. All charitable organizations must file requests with the Communication and Information Technology Commission (CITC) if they want to send donation requests via text messages, the source said. The committee also said charitable organizations requesting the service must have a permit from their supervisory bodies to raise donations through SMS messages. The renewable permit is valid for one year, according to the source. The source added that the committee has asked mobile companies to not send the messages unless they are approved by the CITC.
