Tokyo: New bill to close spam mail loophole

The bill, which will be mapped out on the basis of an interim report to be compiled in autumn by a study group comprising telecommunications business operators and scholars, will make spam mails illegal as the envisioned law will ban without exception unsolicited advertising and publicity messages, including online dating sites.

Such e-mail can only be transmitted to those, including members, who have agreed to receive them in advance.

The law, enacted in 2002, requires transmitters to display their names and telephone numbers and label messages with the phrase "unsolicited advertisement" if they transmit advertisements and publicity mails without the consent of receivers.

Senders also are not allowed to e-mail those who have already indicated a desire not to receive such messages.

Violators of the law can be sentenced to prison for up to one year and be fined up to 1 million yen, but few spammers have been prosecuted.

The envisioned law would even criminalise a first spam mail, with an eye to meting out punishment, including prison terms and fines, to violators.

A center established within the Nippon Information Communications Association, which is under the supervision of the ministry, offers advice on spam mail and provides information to police for cracking down on spammers.

Since the envisioned law would not apply to spam mails sent from overseas, the ministry also will take comprehensive measures, including strengthening international cooperation and enlightening users, to deal with the international aspects of the problem.

The ministry also will consider regulations to fight phishing mail, which pretend to be e-mail from banks but aim to steal personal information, including credit card numbers.

A case investigate by Chiba prefectural police in January revealed about 5.4 billion spam mails believed to have been transmitted over a two-month period.

In fiscal 2006, the centre, offering advice on spam e-mail, received about 2,700 calls.

- By Business Desk

The Daily Yomiuri, Asia News Net