Brussels, 25/02/2005 (Agence Europe) - A joint drive to combat 'spam' (unsolicited) e-mail from Europe and Asia was agreed by Government participants attending an Asia-Europe (ASEM) conference on eCommerce, held in London on 21-22 February. In a joint statement on international anti-spam cooperation, ASEM's 25 European and 13 Asian member countries agree to take action to fight spam nationally and to promote anti-spam efforts in international organisations and by industry. ASEM members include China and South Korea, which are reportedly major sources of spam. Over 60% of global e-mail traffic is spam according to various industry sources. Experts estimate that over 20% of global 'spam' e-mail originates in China and South Korea alone. “I welcome this important EU-Asia statement on spam”, Information Society and Media Commissioner Viviane Reding said. “The EU cannot act alone in the fight against spam as it is essentially borderless. It is crucial that the problem be taken seriously in every part of the world and in particular in regions where a lot of spam is reported to originate”. The conference showed that responses are emerging, with some successes in enforcement and better technical solutions for combating spam. Participants called on governments and industry in Europe and Asia to further ensure that adequate anti-spam frameworks, including legislation, are in place in every country, and to engage in international cooperation to combat this inherently cross-border threat. The conference statement commits ASEM countries to conduct regular discussions and take actions through policy and enforcement officials. Action would include legislation and enforcement, as well as awareness raising, industry self-regulation, technical solutions and partnerships between governments and the internet community. Viviane Reding comments that worryingly, spam undermines consumer confidence in e-commerce and the Information Society and success in combating it is vital to boost trade and investment through on-line technologies
Recently, thirteen Member States decided to work together to combat spam and apply measures established by the CNSA (Contact Network of Spam Enforcement Authorities) on the initiative of the European Commission (see Europe of 8 February). The Commission is working together with the United States, another major source of spam, at the International Telecommunications Union and on an OECD Task Force (for further information: http: //http://www.asemec-london.org ).