Spammers Now Need Permission in Britain

[Tjerk Jouwstra]

REPLY TO: D66 at nic.surfnet.nl

Henk,

Ik ben al heel blij met het SPAMfilter van mijn provider, planet.nl(die mijn
worldacces, wxs heeft overgenomen), waardoor het aantal dageljkse mails met
zo'n 60% is gereduceerd. Ik had vanavond  geen spammail en vanochtend 3, die
ik alle heb afgezegd, maar dat helpt volgens mij ook voor geen meter.

Groet,

Tjerk
----- Original Message -----
From: "Henk Elegeert" <hmje at home.nl>
To: <d66 at NIC.SURFNET.NL>
Sent: Friday, September 19, 2003 4:23 PM
Subject: Spammers Now Need Permission in Britain


> REPLY TO: D66 at nic.surfnet.nl
>
>
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030919/ap_on_hi_te/spam_
ban&cid=562&ncid=716
>
> "
> Technology - AP
> Spammers Now Need Permission in Britain
>
> By BETH GARDINER, Associated Press Writer
>
> LONDON - Spammers beware. Britain has announced that those
> sending unsolicited e-mail must get recipients' agreement in
> advance. Violators will be subject to fines of 5,000 pounds
> (US$8,000) or more and possible lawsuits from those they've
> targeted.
>
> The rule, aimed at shrinking the heavy traffic of junk
> e-mail messages, also applies to unsolicited text messages
> sent to mobile phones, the government said Thursday.
>
> It makes an exception in cases where the sender and
> recipient have done business with one another in the past,
> so companies will still be allowed to contact former
> customers with new offers and other information, the
> Department of Trade and Industry said.
>
> "These regulations will help combat the global nuisance of
> unsolicited e-mails and texts by enshrining in law rights
> that give consumers more say over who can use their personal
> details," Communications Minister Stephen Timms said in
> announcing the new regulations.
>
> But the government won't be able to touch bulk e-mailers who
> target Britons from outside the country, and spammers'
> anonymity may make it hard to impose fines even on those
> operating in Britain.
>
> The ban applies only to individual addressees, not
> businesses. The Trade and Industry department said
> businesses told officials they wanted to continue receiving
> electronic solicitations.
>
> Britain issued the new rules to comply with a European Union
> (news - web sites) directive that requires member states to
> act against spam by Oct. 31. The government introduced the
> new rules Thursday and they will come into force on Dec. 11.
>
> Violators will be subject to fines of up to 5,000 pounds
> (US$8,000) if a complaint against them is resolved by a
> low-level magistrates court or an unlimited fine if the case
> goes to a jury, the Trade and Industry department said.
> Those who have been damaged by illegal spam will have the
> right to sue, it added.
>
> The new rules also limit companies' ability to use "cookie"
> files and other devices which let them obtain information
> about users who visit their Web sites. Companies will now be
> required to ask users' permission before taking such data
> and retaining or selling it.
>
> The new regulations also include an extension of a rule
> announced last year that allows individuals to bar
> telemarketers from calling them. Now businesses can choose
> not to receive such calls, the government said.
>
> The Australian government announced even tougher plans to
> crack down on spam Thursday, proposing to fine those who
> send unsolicited messages up to A$1.1 million (US$726,000) a
> day.
> "
>
> Henk Elegeert
>
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