Japan Eyes Ban on Unsolicited E-Mail Ads

Tokyo, Aug. 28 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is considering introducing a ban on unsolicited e-mail messages to address a sharp increase in spam, ministry officials said Tuesday.

The ministry is studying a plan to ban companies from sending e- mail advertising without the prior consent of recipients. The ministry has yet to decide whether violators will be punished.

The idea was unveiled at a meeting of a subpanel of the Industrial Structure Council, which advises the minister of economy, trade and industry.

Based on a report to be presented by the subpanel in autumn, the ministry will come up with a bill to revise the Specified Commercial Transactions Law for submission to the next ordinary session of parliament from January 2008, the officials said.

At the subpanel meeting, many members approved of the stricter rules. Meanwhile, some members said the new rules should be devised carefully so as not to suppress the activities of law-abiding companies.

The present Specified Commercial Transactions Law requires the senders of spam to clearly state in the subject box that the e- mails are unsolicited. Violators could receive business suspension orders or other administrative penalties.

A ministry survey conducted between June and August found that only 0.7 pct of such e-mail advertising clarified it was unsolicited, suggesting that few senders observe the rule.

Separately, the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry has set up a panel of experts and started talks to tighten regulations on spam.END

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