The Spam Control Act comes into effect
ConvergenceAsia staff
08/06/2007

Singapore has announced that the Spam Control Act 2007 will come into effect on 15 June 2007. The Act will serve as the overarching framework for spam control here.

Spam, estimated to make up the bulk of all emails sent worldwide, is unsolicited commercial messages sent in bulk via mobile telephony systems or email.

A growing concern for Internet users, spam typically advertises or promotes goods or services, which may also include land, business opportunity or investment opportunities.

The Spam Control Act will offer a framework to better manage spam. It will not offer complete respite from spam, but consumers will get a measure of protection from spam.

The legal guidelines are reasonably easy for marketers to follow and for consumers to understand.

Under the Act, marketers - particularly those based in Singapore or who have operations here - who continue to spam the 'not interested' group face potential financial penalties. The statutory penalty is $25 for each electronic message, up to a total of $1 million.

Globally, countries such as the United States of America, Japan, South Korea and Australia already have similar anti-spam policies in place.

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