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Japan Passes Anti-spam Law

Posted by timothy on from the sounds-reasonable dept.

Dr. Tom writes: "Japan Today reports on the new anti-spam law in Japan (which went into effect Thursday). The law's main feature is that it prohibits sending email with nonexistent or spoofed addresses -- a practice common among spammers. It also requires senders to clearly identify UCE as such (so users can install automated blocking tools if they so desire) and provide opt-out functionality. The UCE problem is especially severe in Japan where local phone calls are not free and users must currently pay for downloads of email. Opt-out features are a bad idea, though, because when you opt-out, it just proves your email is valid and the spammers can sell that. But requiring UCE to contain a "Bulk" keyword allows users to have their ISPs block the downloads automatically. The Diet is also considering legislation that would make all UCE illegal."

7 of 12 comments (clear)

  1. So how do I sue? by QuodEratDemonstratum · · Score: 3, Interesting

    As an Englishman living in America, how do I sue a Japanese spammer? Seriously?

    1. Re:So how do I sue? by Dr.+Tom · · Score: 2

      Ask your lawyer. If the spam originated in Japan you could sue under current law, and if not, well, at least it sets a valuable legal precedent. You could site that in your case.

    2. Re:So how do I sue? by Dr.+Tom · · Score: 2

      Damn, I meant "cite," obviously.

  2. Intersting by Cow4263 · · Score: 1

    Good idea, but like any novel idea, its implentation will show how effective it is. They need have large fines for mass spam.

    fp anyway...

    1. Re:Intersting by moderators_are_w*nke · · Score: 1

      I think prison sentences is a better way to put people off. Lock up the company directors, they'll love that.

      IIRC, the japanese courts system is a bit different to western ones as well. A far higher proportion of cases that go to court result in convictions, for example.

      --
      "XML is like violence. If it doesn't solve your problem, use more." - Anonymous Coward
  3. Re:Umm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    "Their" And no, because international legal precedents matter.

  4. Should I get a .jp email address now? by Frobnicator · · Score: 1

    If the consumer can collect the penalty, might be worth it to get an account at an ISP in Japan and make sure that the email address gets harvested.

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