- What is the Australian government doing to stop spam?
- How do industry Codes of Practice help reduce spam?
- What can Internet Service Providers and electronic messaging service providers do to stop spam?
What is the Australian government doing to stop spam?
Spam is a global problem and the majority of spam comes from overseas. The Australian Government is committed to fighting spam through:
- legislation and enforcement to reduce spam originating in Australia
- education and awareness activities and campaigns
- technological solutions, such as the Spam SMS reporting tool and Australian Internet Security Initiative reporting tool
- partnerships with industry
- international cooperation with other governments aimed at reducing spam.
Visit How the ACMA is fighting spam for more detailed information about these activities, and find out what penalties can apply for breaching the Spam Act in the Powers and penalties section.
How do industry Codes of Practice help reduce spam?
There are two codes of practice relating to email messaging:
These codes were developed by industry, regulatory and consumer representatives.
The internet code sets out how internet and email service providers should address the sources of spam within their own networks. It requires service providers to provide users with information about filtering options and how to deal with spam.
The e-marketing code sets out rules and guidelines for businesses sending electronic messages, and outlines how they can meet the requirements of the Spam Act.
For more detailed information on industry codes, visit The Spam Act and Codes of Practice section.
What can Internet Service Providers and electronic messaging service providers do to stop spam?
Internet and electronic messaging service providers can help to fight spam by meeting the requirements set out in the Spam Code. The Spam Code has information on:
- closing open relays and proxies
- providing filtering to their customers
- providing customers with practical and accessible information on reducing spam.
For more information, visit the Spam Code and Information for ISPs and ESPs pages.
