New Zealand to curb spam

Anti-spam codes of conduct for SMS and email

New Zealand's Telecommunications Carriers Forum (TCF) has signed an SMS anti-spam code of conduct, and is due to sign a similar code designed to curb email spam today.

The SMS Anti-Spam Code was drawn up in December 2004 and officially signed yesterday at a board meeting of the TCS. Telecom, Vodafone, TelstraClear, TUANZ, WorldxChange, CallPlus, BCL, Vector Communications and the Direct Marketing Association have formally ratified the SMS Code, indicating their support and their commitment to the Code and its principles.

According to New Zealand's Minister for Information Technology, who was present for the signing of the SMS Code, surveys indicate that 60-75 per cent of email received in New Zealand is spam.

In addition to the email code of conduct, it is hoped that anti-spam legislation will be introduced later this year. The Minister said that an Unsolicited Electronic Messages Bill was ready for introduction to Parliament and the leader of the house was to determine its priority.

While, according to the Minister for Information Technology, only around 5 per cent of spam received in New Zealand actually originates in the country, the penalties proposed in the Bill are in line with those in other countries and will be able to be imposed on spammers operating from countries with which New Zealand has agreed to co-operate on spam.

The final email anti-spam code of conduct will be available at the TCF website.

3 February 2005

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