Spam is expected to account for approximately 40% of all Internet email delivered this year, contributing about US$2-3 of the average consumer's monthly Internet bill. The law, despite having a long (and undistinguished) history with spam, has been caught short in its response to this unexpected and unwelcome phenomenon. As a preliminary matter, it is necessary to define what constitutes spam. CAUBE-AU (the Coalition Against Unsolicited Bulk Email, Australia) defines spam very broadly as any …showed first 75 words of 1614 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1614 total…domestic offenders. Even for foreign offenders against whom enforcement is more problematic, the making of a strong legislative position statement on spam will create an ideological footing for the future implementation of leading-edge technical measures against spam, perhaps beginning with an approved schedule of industry-maintained blacklists. Such steps will not eliminate the problem, but they are at least a first line of defence against Internet marketers who would treat our email inboxes as public property.