> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.orbit.devotel.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Restricted & Prohibited Industries

> What content and industries are restricted or banned across Orbit's messaging and voice channels — the SHAFT categories, high-risk verticals that need extra vetting, and where to check the per-country rules that apply to your traffic.

# Restricted & Prohibited Industries

Every messaging and voice channel Orbit connects to — SMS, MMS, RCS,
WhatsApp, Viber, and voice — is governed by the acceptable-use rules of
the carriers, aggregators, and platform owners underneath it (CTIA and
the US carriers for SMS/10DLC, Meta for WhatsApp, the GSMA carriers for
RCS, national regulators everywhere else). Sending banned content does
not just risk a single blocked message: it can get your sender ID
de-registered, your 10DLC campaign suspended, or your WhatsApp Business
Account **permanently banned** across every provider — not just Orbit.

This page is the plain-language reference for what you can and cannot
send. Use it before you launch a campaign in a new vertical.

<Note>
  This is compliance guidance, not legal advice, and the rules change
  frequently. The final decision always belongs to the carrier,
  aggregator, or platform reviewing your traffic. When in doubt, ask
  before you send — email [compliance@devotel.io](mailto:compliance@devotel.io).
</Note>

***

## The SHAFT categories

Across US A2P messaging (10DLC, short codes, toll-free) the carriers
enforce a shared "**SHAFT**" content standard. These categories are
restricted or banned on messaging channels regardless of the country
you are sending to, and each carrier's automated content filters look
for them:

| Category     | Rule                                                                                                                                                                 |
| ------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **S**ex      | Adult content, nudity, escort/"companionship" services, and sexually explicit material are **prohibited** on all messaging channels.                                 |
| **H**ate     | Content that promotes hate, discrimination, or violence against a protected group is **prohibited**.                                                                 |
| **A**lcohol  | **Restricted.** Allowed only with age-gating (18+/21+) and never targeting minors; blocked in dry markets.                                                           |
| **F**irearms | **Restricted to prohibited.** Firearms, ammunition, and accessories are blocked on most US carriers and on WhatsApp globally.                                        |
| **T**obacco  | **Restricted to prohibited.** Cigarettes, cigars, vapes, and other nicotine products are blocked on most messaging channels; cessation services are usually allowed. |

Cannabis and CBD are treated as an extension of SHAFT: **cannabis (including
CBD, even where legal locally) is prohibited on US A2P messaging** by the
carriers, and content that promotes it will fail 10DLC vetting.

***

## High-risk verticals (allowed with extra vetting)

These industries are legal but heavily restricted. They are allowed on
Orbit only with the right registration, disclosures, and — for some —
provider pre-approval. Expect longer onboarding and stricter template
review.

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Gambling, betting & lottery">
    Allowed for **licensed operators in regulated markets** only. You must
    provide a valid gambling license during onboarding, honour
    self-exclusion lists, and avoid "guaranteed win" claims. Blocked
    outright in jurisdictions where gambling is illegal.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Loans, credit & debt collection">
    Allowed with clear APR disclosure. **High-cost / payday lending**
    (short-term loans above the US \~36% APR threshold) is prohibited on US
    carriers. Debt-collection messaging must follow FDCPA-style disclosure
    rules.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Cryptocurrency & digital assets">
    Informational and account-security messages (login alerts, price
    alerts, KYC prompts) are generally allowed. **Promotional** crypto —
    token sales, airdrops, "get rich quick" framing, leveraged products —
    is restricted and blocked outright on US 10DLC.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Pharmaceuticals & health">
    Appointment reminders, refill notifications, and OTC/wellness products
    are allowed. **Direct-to-consumer sale of prescription drugs**,
    controlled substances, and weight-loss/HRT drugs is prohibited.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Multi-level marketing (MLM)">
    Order and delivery notifications from established companies are allowed.
    Any "recruit for commission", "passive income", or "join my downline"
    content is prohibited and will fail vetting.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Political & advocacy">
    Allowed for registered campaigns and issue advocacy with documented
    registration in the relevant jurisdiction. Election misinformation and
    impersonation of officials are prohibited, and platforms impose
    temporary blackouts during some election windows.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

***

## Prohibited everywhere (never allowed)

These are banned on every channel, with no consent or registration that
makes them acceptable:

* Illegal drugs, controlled substances, and drug paraphernalia
* Weapons, explosives, and ammunition (where the platform bans them —
  WhatsApp bans globally)
* Stolen, counterfeit, or illicit goods; hacking or malware services
* Phishing, deceptive marketing, and "grey-route" / SIM-farm traffic
* Human trafficking, child exploitation, and any content that is illegal
  in the destination country

***

## Channel-specific policies

The SHAFT baseline above is the floor. Individual channels layer their
own rules on top:

* **WhatsApp** enforces Meta's Commerce and Business Messaging policies,
  which are stricter than SMS in several verticals (crypto, dating,
  supplements) — see the dedicated
  [WhatsApp Restricted & Prohibited Content Policy](/compliance/whatsapp-content-policy).
* **RCS** follows the carrier + Google agent-verification rules; see
  [RCS](/channels/rcs).
* **US A2P SMS** additionally requires 10DLC brand and campaign
  registration, where your use case and vertical are vetted — see the
  [10DLC Registration guide](/guides/10dlc-registration).

***

## Restrictions vary by country

On top of the industry rules above, **what is restricted also depends on
where you send.** Alcohol is fine in one market and blocked in the next;
some countries prohibit whole categories of promotional content.

Orbit publishes a per-country regulatory reference — including each
country's `content_restrictions` — through the country-rules API and the
dashboard. Check it before launching in a new market:

```bash theme={null}
curl "https://api.orbit.devotel.io/api/v1/compliance/country-rules?channel=sms&region=EU" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $ORBIT_API_KEY"
```

See [Country Compliance Requirements](/compliance/country-requirements) for
how to read those rules, and what documentation each country expects.

***

## Related references

* [Country Compliance Requirements](/compliance/country-requirements) —
  per-country accepted sender types, registration requirements, and the
  documents you must supply.
* [WhatsApp Restricted & Prohibited Content Policy](/compliance/whatsapp-content-policy) —
  Meta's channel-specific rules in detail.
* [Sender-ID Registration](/compliance/sender-id-registration) — register
  the brand name traffic sends under.
* [10DLC Registration](/guides/10dlc-registration) — brand and campaign
  vetting for US A2P SMS.
* [Send Gates](/compliance/send-gates) — the quiet-hours, DNC, and
  emergency-stop gates that run at send time.