Should spammers be forced to pay for their actions?

Among the various suggested methods of controlling spam is the notion that a change in billing - which would make spammers pay for their actions - is the way to go. But it is an issue which is dividing opinion.

Some believe it will be innovation which finally stops spammers in their tracks, while the opposition believe such a fundamental shift in the way we use email will be unworkable.

Ted Hunting, director of marketing for communications mediator Narus, and a proponent of charging for email, said: "What we are looking at is the idea that we can charge a very minute amount to send an email.

"Perhaps until you've sent 100 there's no charge but after that there are small charges per email. If you are somebody, like a spammer, who is sending tens of millions of emails per day these costs will really add up. The more we can do to hit them in the pocket the better."

However, not everybody in the industry is convinced. Critics suggest spammers - who often tend to be one step ahead of the technology being implemented to halt their activities - will merely find a way around the billing and will simply pass the costs onto innocent victims whose servers they abuse to send mail.

"It's not a perfect solution," said Hunting. "But it will hopefully help to a certain degree with some spammers. It's not going to end the problem, that will take a combination of factors, but it could help to control the problem."

Enrique Salem, CEO of Brightmail, isn't so convinced. Speaking to silicon.com after Tuesday's Spam Summit Salem said: "I don't think the idea of charging people for sending spam is a workable one. For a start we're talking about changing the very model of email and that's not going to be easy."

Another side who would be opposed to billing for mass mails is the direct marketers.

Narus' Hunting said: "I don't think genuine direct marketers are going to like what I'm saying but I think there has to be a nod to the consumer here. Of course there will be complaints but this is an issue where the consumer has to come first."

Hunting belies a move onto this kind of billing model may well be "a natural evolution" and something which we see sooner rather than later.

"Things have really come to a head with spam now," he said. "The way things are going currently I think this will happen within three years, if it is going to happen at all."

What are your thoughts on this issue? Email editorial@silicon.com and let us know.