MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY FORMS ANTI-SPAM TASK FORCE
By Adnews Staff
Minister of Industry Lucienne Robillard announced in Ottawa yesterday the formation of a ministerial task force to combat the use of unsolicited commercial email, commonly known as spam. The task force will oversee the implementation of a six point plan involving the use of existing laws and regulations, a review of legal gaps used by spammers, improvement of current industry practices, the use of technology to "validate legitimate commercial communications," consumer education, and the promotion of an international anti-spam framework. The members of the task force are Lori Assheton-Smith of the Canadian Cable Television Association, Michael Binder of Industry Canada, Tom Copeland of the Canadian Association of Internet Service Providers, Bernard Courtois of the Information Technology Association of Canada, Michael Geist of the University of Ottawa, Amanda Maltby of the Canadian Marketing Association, Suzanne Morin of the Internet Law Policy Forum, Geneviève Reed of Option consommateurs, Neil Schwartzman of the Coalition Against Unsolicited Commercial Email Canada, and Roger Tassé of Gowling Lafleur Henderson. In the fall of this year the task force will review its progress. In the spring of 2005 the task force will present its findings to the minister. "The Government of Canada recognizes that spam is a complex and global issue," said Robillard. "We are committed to working in partnership with industry and consumers to find innovative and appropriate solutions to address this problem."