Following the mixed success of EU anti-spam legislation, and the
coming into force of the much-derided CAN-SPAM Act in the US, the
European Commission is looking to tighten European laws on
controlling unsolicited commercial e-mail, according to
Reuters.
Although the EU has already passed a 2002 Directive dealing with
spam, cookies and privacy issues in electronic communications, it
has not been an overwhelming success.
Due to be implemented by member states in October last year,
nine member states have yet to take the appropriate measures to
bring the rules into force, and the Commission is now in the early
stages of action against these states to force implementation. In
other states, while the rules have been implemented, they are not
consistent and problems of enforcement or penalties remain.
The Commission is looking at spam anew, according to a Reuters
report, and will publish a policy document next week that calls for
tougher sanctions against spammers.
"Member states and competent authorities should ... create
adequate possibilities for victims to claim damages and provide for
real sanctions, including financial and criminal penalties where
appropriate," says the policy paper, according to Reuters.
