Follow-Up to Government Anti-Spam Task Force Report

This is a follow-up to an earlier post about last week's release of a Canadian government report on how to combat spam.

University of Ottawa law professor Michael Geist, a member of the Task Force, has published his own comments on his website.

Geist argues that the recommendation to set up a new anti-spam law with an opt-in system is the key to the report. An opt-in system in a spam specific law will take the pressure off the current national privacy statute, which is ill-equipped to deal with serious spam issues since it does not provide the Privacy Commissioner with the ability to levy tough penalties or exercise order making powers.

As well, a new central co-ordinating body would also keep private sector parties accountable by issuing regular public reports and assist the public by establishing education programs and a central complaints mechanism.

Other comments on the spam issue:

• Industry best practices to fight spam unveiled (December 2004)
• Comment period for anti-spam action plan extended (July 2004)
• Government welcomes comments on Canadian anti-spam action plan (June 2004)
• Federal government unveils strategy to can spam (May 2004)