EU demands better spam and malware fighting

Commission report calls for smarter response to online onslaught.

An official statement from the European Commission has demanded a step up in the battle against spam, spyware and other malware, urging EU member states to follow the example of the Netherlands, which has achieved an 85% reduction in domestic spam thanks to a dedicated agency diligently prosecuting spammers.

Figures from Sophos' quarterly Dirty Dozen list of the top 12 spam-sending nations were used to point the finger at EU member states failing to prevent spam originating within their borders - France, Spain, Poland, Italy and Germany are all in the top ten in the latest list. The report also quotes figures from Symantec and MessageLabs, estimating that spam makes up between 54% and 85% of all email, and discusses the rise of serious crime in relation to spam and malware, with fraud, spyware and phishing described as growing problems jeopardising legitimate online business.

The Dutch efforts, led by the OPTA agency charged with supervising compliance with postal and electronic communication law, have made significant advances in fighting spam, with only five dedicated staff and just over half a million Euros in equipment costs. As well as following this lead and strengthening enforcement of current laws, the statement encourages new, tougher community-wide legislation, greater cooperation both between member states and with countries outside the Union, continued action from the commercial sector and more research into technology to control threats.

The Commission's press release about the statement is here. The full report is available in multiple languages from this page - the English version (PDF format) is here.

29 November 2006

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