International Spam Regulation & Enforcement: Recommendations Following the World Summit on the Information Society

Abstract

Unsolicited bulk e-mail, or “spam,” is often called the scourge of the information age. Because of the cross-border nature of the Internet, both governments and the private sector are facing many challenges in combating cross-border spam. In recent years, through the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), the international community has committed itself to fight spam on a global level through increased cooperation and enforcement of spam laws. This Note evaluates many of the issues involved in preventing cross-border spam, discusses the latest methods of enforcement in both the private and public sectors, and recommends an approach to the problem in light of the commitments made at WSIS.