Varied Opinions on Anti-spam Legislation in New Zealand

The Unsolicited Electronic Messages Act 2007 is scheduled to take effect on September 5, 2007 in New Zealand making spam distribution illegal for every individual or company in the country. Although New Zealand receives most of its spam mails from foreign countries, the government is ensuring that there is no spamming among the Kiwis.

But according to Jerry Flay, MD, Inbox Ltd., a company in New Zealand that specializes in marketing and publishing, the Act would not affect the amount of spam coming into the inboxes. Stuff.co.nz reported this on August 24, 2007. Spam would not decline unless the ISPs (Internet service providers) and e-mail industry jointly work for authentication, Flay opined.

The UEM Act describes spam as "unsolicited commercial electronic messages" and specifies the rules for legitimate distribution of commercial electronic messages. There is also an anti-spam unit under the Department of Internal Affairs. Its work is to investigate public complaints regarding spam and to thwart spammers who violate the law.

According to Joe Stewart, manager of the anti-spam unit, 99% of spam in New Zealand stems from outside the country, so UEM Act can do little to stop it. Times ONLINE reported this on August 20, 2007. The Act, however, helps to prevent the country from becoming a haven for spammers by fighting spam originating in New Zealand, says Mr. Stewart.

The legislation of the Act is one of the many undertakings to counter spam. There will also be an active promotion of spam awareness and education, encouragement of industry liaison, and watch on emerging technologies.

CEO of the Marketing Association of New Zealand, Keith Norris, said the legislation would help the NZ government to share information with foreign governments to enable identification and eventual clamp down on spammers. Stuff.co.nz reported this. It is also a message to people who deliberately fail to respect individual privacy, Norris commented.

Run the Red, a leading mobile service provider for entertainment and information in NZ, also supports the legislation.

Those flaunting the UEM Act could receive a formal warning or infringement notice, with a fine of up to $500,000 for a company and $200,000 for a person.

» SPAMfighter News - 9/7/2007