Two groups of activists staged a protest against the Direct Marketing Association yesterday, calling for a boycott of the DMA’s e-Mail Preference Service, and gathering signatures on a cyber-petition favoring federal anti-spam legislation.
The Spam Recycling Center and the Forum for Responsible and Ethical E-mail say e-commerce businesses and consumers should boycott the DMA’s e-MPS, set to debut on Monday.
The e-MPS is similar to the direct marketing trade group’s mail preference service. Consumers who don’t wish to receive unsolicited e-mail may register their disinterest with the e-MPS. Then, marketers who are transmitting non-opt-in e-mails may check the e-MPS list to see who doesn’t wish to receive e-mail. DMA members are required to check the e-MPS list.
“The e-MPS is a red herring whose sole purpose is to paint a veneer of legitimacy on the practice of spamming,” said Mickey Chandler, president of FREE, in a statement. “The DMA, as a matter of policy, is protecting spamming and the e-MPS is a part of that pro-spam effort.”
DMA spokesman Stephen Altobelli told DIRECT Newsline: “The DMA believes that self-regulation is working and it’s important for public policy makers, consumer and privacy advocates and industry to keep in mind that the Internet is a new medium and the ground rules for what is acceptable and what is not acceptable are still being developed.”
Signatures collected on a cyber-petition at the MadAboutSpam.org Web site will be delivered to Reps. Gary Miller (R-CA) and Rush Holt (D-NJ), who support anti-spam legislation pending in the House Commerce Committee.
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