APEC Principles for Action against Spam

These are the key principles to be considered as a means to reduce or eliminate spam.

1. High level Government commitment and a multilayered approach are cornerstones for the effective control of spam.

2. Strong domestic anti spam regulatory measures are a key component in the undertaking of anti spam activity.

3. Anti spam technology and standards are important in the fight against spam.

4. An agency/agencies should be identified to undertake domestic action and negotiate international coordination and cooperation.

5. The Marketing, ISP and ESP industries, as well as consumers, have key roles in promoting anti spam responses.

6. Domestic and international cooperation is essential to control spam and its effects.

7. The work of other organisations, domestic and international, are resources for anti spam action plans, efforts should be made to make proposals and activity coordinated and consistent.

A. Designate, or appoint a responsible agency/agencies with domestic and international authority.

B. Establish regulatory arrangements drawing upon appropriate existing and emerging work (OECD Toolkit, ITU activities, the experience of other economies).

C. Establish bilateral and multilateral arrangements as appropriate (see attached Best Practice Template for indicative areas to include).

D. Encourage and assist the anti spam activities of ISPs and ESPs, e-marketers, mobile telephony service providers and consumers.

E. Encourage the development and implementation of an adequate legal and policy framework to combat spam.

By the Identified anti Spam Agency/Agencies

F. Focus domestic activities and international cooperation and coordination against spam.

G. Educate consumers (behaviour on the net, maintenance of software, use of appropriate technology, choosing ISPs, the implications of and damage caused by spam).

H. Coordinate with ISPs, ESPs and e-marketers on responses to spam.

I. Enforce anti spam regulatory measures, including, but not limited to, technical standards and requirements.

J. Contribute to international cooperation (ITU work, MoUs with other economies).

K. E-Marketers set the extent of responsible and reasonable behaviour (to preserve the e-market).

L. ISPs and ESPs should develop cooperative governance and technical arrangements to limit spam.

M. Develop systems to gather evidence for anti spam regulatory enforcement action.

N. Promote understanding of issues by relating to key stakeholders such as end users and business partners

O. Explore the option of creating a Code of Conduct for the purposes of self-regulation.

P. Become informed consumers

Q. Adopt responsible behaviour to limit spammers access to email addresses.

R. Maintain up to date computer operating systems, anti virus and anti spam software.

S. Assist ISPs, ESPs and the anti spam agency by providing evidence to assist in the enforcement of anti spam regulations.