Update:
Standard Chartered bank has reached out with an update and said: “SC Mobile app users can choose to enable or disable marketing alerts anytime, and that does not affect their access to the SC Mobile app. We would never enforce marketing alerts on our clients.
A very small number of Android users may have received a prompt on the SC Mobile app where they are unable to proceed with logging in unless they enable marketing alerts. This is limited in impact to a few Android users, and is due to a bug. To address this, our teams have been working and the new app update has been made available on the Google Play Store. SC Mobile app users will be able to download the updated version over the next couple of days. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
In the meantime, clients can switch off marketing alerts in the SC Mobile app by first enabling notification of SC Mobile from Android’s settings to log into SC Mobile, and then manage their banking and marketing alerts at the top-right speech bubble > Manage Alerts at the bottom of the screen. Clients who would like assistance can contact our call centre at 6747 7000″.
SINGAPORE: Standard Chartered is facing criticism from some of its customers over its mobile app’s advertising practices, with several users taking to online forums to express their dissatisfaction.
The crux of the issue revolves around the bank’s app requiring users to grant permission for advertisements in order to gain access to their accounts. A number of customers have said that it is disconcerting that they cannot utilize the app without providing consent for marketing-related content.
One affected Standard Chartered customer even reached out to the bank, expressing their desire to opt out of receiving promotional material. However, the bank allegedly responded that it is not able to disable the promotional bank advertisements on the app.
Adding to the customers’ discontent, it has been reported that the advertisements within the app often lead users in circles. Some users claim that one of the ads links to the Standard Chartered website, which then promotes the use of the app itself.
Some disgruntled users are even demanding that the government investigate Standard Chartered for any potential violations of Singapore’s Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA), claiming that the bank’s perceived insistence on users granting permission for advertising may breach prevailing data protection regulations.
Singapore’s Personal Data Protection Act, enacted to safeguard individuals’ personal data and regulate its collection, use, and disclosure, is intended to prevent organizations from exploiting personal information for marketing purposes without explicit consent.
Standard Chartered has yet to make an official statement regarding the complaints raised by its customers.