The shortcomings of Europe's war against spam are highlighted in a study of anti-spam legislation published today.

The Institute for Information Law (IViR) of the University of Amsterdam and security firm Sybari Software looked into the law regulating unsolicited commercial email (i.e. spam) in the EU. Special emphasis was placed on the EU's July 2002 Directive on Privacy and Electronic Communications.

Their report reveals weak spots in the implementation and enforcement of anti-spam legislation. For example, interpretation of a number of important aspects of the Directive is left to individual countries. So spamming is a criminal offence in Italy - but not in the UK.

By John Leyden at The Register.

[ Read more ]

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