Killing Spam: Australian Government Aims to Outlaw Unsolicired Mail


The Australian Government this week accepted the key recommendations of a report commissioned into the increasing problem of spam, the euphemism for unsolicited email.

The report found that up to 20% of network traffic is clogged with spam, representing, in some cases, major problems for business and government, and slowdowns in network operations. The report also noted "privacy, illicit content, misleading and deceptive trade practices".

The Federal Government also argues that spam "promotes pornography, illegal online gambling services, medical cures, get rich quick schemes or misleading and deceptive trade practices."

The Australian Communications Minister, Senator Richard Alston, said that once anti-spam legislation passed through both house of Parliament, spam would be "effectively illegal" in Australia. Internet stalking or harassment is already illegal under the Crimes Act.

However, Australian ISPs doubted that legislation would outlaw spam effectively. arguing that most unsolicited email originated from outside the country, including mail advertising illegal pornography or on-line gambling.

The proposed legislation has also drawn some fire from Australian direct marketing companies and associations, which view moves to ban spam as damaging to their business.

Analysis: Good. If direct marketing morons - which hopefully includes Dell - go bust because they can't riddle people's email with worthless junk, then any forthcoming Bill will be worthwhile. Of course, it won't work, but the prospect of fining low-life spammers into bankruptcy appeals strongly to me. How about you?