Restricted Image Detection for MMS and RCS/RBM

What is Restricted Image Detection for MMS and RCS Business Messaging?

The Enea Adaptive Messaging Firewall employes AI-driven Restricted Image Detection, to filter MMS and RBM on the A2P path containing prohibited image content. Image content guidelines (i.e., CTIA’s messaging principles and best practices) and regulations typically prohibit the delivery of specific content such as SHAFT (sex, hate, alcohol, firearms, and tobacco) and illegal drugs to subscribers.

The Enea Adaptive Messaging Firewall, equipped with Restricted Image Detection, operates with impressive real-time capabilities. It can swiftly detect and block messages or tag senders of prohibited content for offline actions.

Why is Image Scanning Important for CPaaS Providers, Aggregators, and MNOs?

Because the restricted image detection is completely automated, without human involvement, it solves some significant issues CSPs have had with enforcing compliance with content guidelines and regulations:

• It enables safe message delivery over rich channels, including MMS and RBM. The risk of being fined or losing sending capabilities when providing lucrative RBM services to brands is greatly reduced.
• It checks every message instead of relying on random sampling. This means every message violating content rules will be blocked before it reaches the subscriber. Random sampling only has a limited deterring effect.
• Since it runs fully automated, it frees up resources for other tasks than reviewing content for compliance. Using employees to run a meaningful enforcement program is very resource-intensive.
• It enables checks on messages in transit. For aggregators and MNOs, there is no alternative, but also, for CPaaS providers, it simplifies the sending process for brands compared to mandatory content previews.

Why is it Crucial to Secure RCS Business Messaging Now, and what are the Potential Benefits for Your Business?

RBM usage is expected to grow significantly in the next few years, as handset support is provided. Brands seeking to engage users will take advantage of RCS’s feature-rich messaging experience.

This rapid growth of RBM presents a new set of challenges for CPaaS providers and aggregators, who must now protect their sender reputation more than ever.

• Content sent without malicious intent to an audience for which it is not appropriate. Brands new to the rich media opportunity RBM brings will need help finding the balance between what is included in best practices and what violates compliance. Brands promoting products and services suitable only for select audiences will go through trial and error before calibrating their communication.
• Direct abuse of the RBM channel. Spammers quickly take advantage of new channels that need to build up satisfactory and effective defenses. As more SMS channels are protected with SMS firewalls, scammers look for new channels to exploit. One such tactic is using images in RBM messages to bypass simple SMS firewalls that are only capable of processing text messages.

In both cases, CPaaS providers and aggregators risk their sending reputation and their ability to deliver messages to subscribers. Subscriber complaints and sampling checks trigger investigations, leading to fines or reduced sending capability.

The Adaptive Messaging Firewall lets MNOs, CPaaS, and aggregators prepare for a rapid increase in the misuse of RBM messages. Waiting to implement defenses for too long could significantly impact the ability to deliver messages and, ultimately, the ability to do business.