The ACMA Registers Internet Industry Code on Spam

By Duncan Giles and Danielle Roth

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has registered a code of practice that seeks to establish industry-wide practices and procedures relating to spam email.

The new code, Internet Industry Spam Code of Practice — A Code For Internet And Email Service Providers (code) was developed by the Internet Industry Association together with the internet associations from Western Australia and South Australia. Section 112 of the Telecommunications Act 1997 empowers bodies in the telecommunications industry to develop codes relating to the telecommunications activities of those bodies.

The Spam Act 2003 makes it illegal to send, or cause to be sent, unsolicited commercial electronic messages (including email, mobile text messages, instant messages and multimedia messages) that have an Australian link.