Leader: ISPs must be forced to stop spam

Australia's announcement that it is to get tough on internet service providers (ISPs) by requiring more from them in the fight against spam should resonate around the world.

The UK government, for example, which has embarrassingly blundered through a number of botched initiatives to crack down on spam, would do well to take note.

The US, whose CAN Spam legislation has been widely criticised, and which, as a country, produces more spam than any other nation should also sit up and listen.

ISPs have always been loathe to step up on this issue because being seen to accept responsibility for content over their networks and admitting a duty of care opens a whole can of worms.

ISPs have always been loathe to step up on this issue because being seen to accept responsibility for content over their networks and admitting a duty of care opens a whole can of worms. However, if they are put in a situation where governments force their hands then there is a regulatory framework to which they can direct dissenting voices.

They can effectively adopt the 'our hands are tied... it's more than our jobs worth' defence.

Yet governments have been even more reluctant to consider such an option. Some bring up issues of restriction of trade or freedom of speech but in truth it's because they have consistently failed to understand that spam is a problem.

The Australian government has now identified the areas of spam concern which do not infringe upon any legitimate email - even if the originators of the mail might make such a claim.

By ordering ISPs to monitor and act on open relays and botnets, a huge chunk of compromised machines used to relay spam will be taken out of commission. Where users are persistently running compromised machines the ISPs will be required to disconnect them.

And by requiring ISPs to make online security services clearly available they will empower consumers to protect themselves properly and hopefully avoid the threat of being cut off.

The ISPs will also be required to restrict connectivity for companies forwarding third-party emails.

The measures should prove effective - if only in Australia. What we now need to see is governments around the world adopting similar best practice legislation.

Is it too much to ask that the UK starts the ball rolling?