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UN Takes Aim At Spam Epidemic

Posted by timothy on from the send-in-the-blue-helmets dept.

clester writes "CNN reports 'The United Nations is aiming to bring a "modern day epidemic" of junk e-mail under control within the next two years by standardizing legislation around the world to make it easier to prosecute spammers, a leading expert said Tuesday.' The full story reports that as much as 85 percent of all e-mail may be categorized as spam and that the problem is rapidly spreading to cell phones in the form of text messages..."

17 of 363 comments (clear)

  1. The UN, the good guys? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Finally, all of those tin-foil wearing Slashdot conspiracy theorists will be GLAD to see the black helicopters crusing all over American airspace, hauling spammers off to be tried at the Hague...

  2. In typical UN fashion... by calags · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... the chairman of the anti-spam committee will be the representative from Nigeria.

    --
    Never attribute to stupidity what can be construed as a monopoly preservation tactic.
    1. Re:In typical UN fashion... by danharan · · Score: 1, Funny

      Yeah, didn't they can have the US heading the disarmament committee?

      --
      Information: "I want to be anthropomorphized"
  3. Thank goodness by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    I for one was worried about how to stop the spam epidemic. I'm glad the UN has finally stepped in to fix things. I'll bet the spammers are shaking in their boots, and cursing the UN's decision to put an end to their evil ways.

    Not. I don't think the UN will do anything more
    than waste billions of dollars on projects that are not needed. Why not spend the money on AID
    research or prevention?

    1. Re:Thank goodness by Pharmboy · · Score: 2, Funny

      If 85% of email is spam i say we just give up on email... Move on and make a new form a communication.

      I have been theorizing about a method of communication where you write your message on paper, put it in a paper cover and someone delivers it for you. If enough people were to use this method, you get the price down to like 37 cents or so per message. ;)

      --
      Tequila: It's not just for breakfast anymore!
  4. Finally... by thelenm · · Score: 4, Funny

    Finally!! An organization with a backbone, a clear vision, and a strong determination to do something about the problem... er, what? The UN? Crap.

    --
    Use Ctrl-C instead of ESC in Vim!
  5. Spammers Rejoice! by Tackhead · · Score: 3, Funny
    > The United Nations is aiming to bring a "modern day epidemic" of junk e-mail under control within the next two years by standardizing legislation around the world to make it easier to prosecute spammers, a leading expert said Tuesday.

    ...and the initial makeup of the UNCOS (U.N. Commission On Spam) are the ambassadors from the Independent Federation of Cyberpromo (S. Wallace), the People's Republic of Optinrealbig (S. Richter), the Neoconfederacy of Telodigm (A. Ralsky), the Principality of Ratsmouth, South Florida (E. Marin) and the Democratic Republic of Horse-Fuckers from Yellowsun (You Don't Wanna Know).

    1. Re:Spammers Rejoice! by red+floyd · · Score: 2, Funny

      You forgot the Nigerian representative, who's chairing the commission.

      --
      The only reason we have the rights we have is that people just like us died to gain those rights. -- Cheerio Boy
  6. WAIT A MINUTE by A_GREER · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...If spamming is a criminal act, then only criminals will spam!!!

  7. UN Resolution on Spam is coming... by XavierItzmann · · Score: 2, Funny



    Spammers of the world, begin to shake on your boots!



    Actually, you can start shaking once we hit anti-spam resolution #18. No need to shake before then.



    --
    The next pasture is always greener
  8. It's an by Muttonhead · · Score: 2, Funny

    engineered U.N. power grab?

  9. *sigh* by Jugalator · · Score: 3, Funny

    Everyone seem to take aim against spam nowadays, but it doesn't seem like their guns are working.

    --
    Beware: In C++, your friends can see your privates!
  10. Re:Before the ignorant flame fest begins by N1KO · · Score: 3, Funny

    I dismiss the UN because a single country is able to cripple its effectiveness.

  11. A more effective solution... by lp-habu · · Score: 3, Funny
    A more effective solution would be to authorize class-action lawsuits against any company which uses spam -- not sends it, uses it. At the same time, we could sharply restrict all other class-action lawsuits so the lawyers would be hungry and vicious. They could easily bankrupt any company that was foolish enough to allow spam to be sent in their name. Then when all the spammers were out of business, the trial lawyers would starve, and the world would be a better place.

    Of course any solution -- even baying at the moon -- would be more effective than relying on the UN.

  12. Good! Well, snap to it ... by cascadingstylesheet · · Score: 2, Funny

    ... I expect a resolution any day now.

    And if that doesn't work (dramatic pause) the strong statements. They may even condemn spam. Oooohh ....

    Now, if they'd actually condemn spammers (to death), and bring in their enforcement arm (the US military), then we'd be talking ...

  13. Re:Before the ignorant flame fest begins by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    "Name me one under US command that has actually worked... that wasn't during the Clinton administration."

    WW2, The Marshal plan, First gulf war, South Korea, Berlin air lift, Soviet isolation, The cold war in general (arn't we glad soviet tanks didn't roll into paris??) Afganistan, second gulf war...anyway there are more but you shouldn't get on your knees to service Clinton so soon....i think there are like 500,000 dead in rowanda that could have been saved if Clinton didn't hamstring any UN or other internation efforts to intervene.

    stendec@gmail.com

  14. Re:Resisting the UN by dcam · · Score: 2, Funny

    What exact UN Security Council resolution did "France, Russia, Germany and so on" break?

    They broke a US Security Council resolution.

    The one that says "We are always right".

    --
    meh