EU Ministers Grapple With Spam Ban
Telecom ministers of the European Union are trying to reach agreement on a potential ban on spam coming into EU nations, Reuters reported.
The provisions proposed, part of broad proposals on confidentiality of electronic data, introduce an “opt-in clause,” under which markters could only send e-mail or use a customer’s data after receiving explicit consent from the consumer.
The majority of EU member nations are backing the opt-in system. This would create a de facto ban on spam mail within the EU, Reuters reports.
But members from Britain, France, Luxembourg and Ireland favor an “opt-out” system, under which consumers would indicate specifically that they do not want to receive e-mail.
Certain nations–Austria, Italy, Denmark, Finland and Germany have already introduced the opt-in system. And, European consumer groups back the ban on spam.
The European Federation of European Direct Marketing is against the opt-in system because it would harm small businesses, the group says.
The European Parliament will examine the issue after the ministers have issued a report in favor of opt-outs.
