Internet Industry Association

Internet Industry Association

N  E  W  S      R  E  L  E  A  S  E

Monday, 28 February 2005

Australia and China Sign Historic Agreement to Help Limit Spam

Representatives from the Internet Industry Association (IIA) and the Internet Society of China (ISC) today signed a historic agreement to help manage spam.

The signing ceremony formalises the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)between the associations to lessen spam traffic over the Internet.

Giving immediate effect to the MoU, the IIA and ISC will hold a roundtable on March 1 to share technical and policy measures to limit the amount of spam originating from or passing through the two countries.

'The signing of this agreement between the Internet Industry Association (IIA) and the Internet Society of China (ISC) is a significant step in working together to prevent spam, protect the continuity of email services and further develop the relationship between Chinese and Australian Internet businesses,' said Peter Coroneos, IIA Chief Executive.

'We will also seek to address concerns about the inappropriate blacklisting of ISPs and the attendant effects on internet users' ability to send and receive emails. The free and open flow of internet communications is paramount and should not suffer just because spammers are poisoning networks,' said Mr Coroneos.

The Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan welcomed the signing of the IIA/ISC MoU.

'Australia has made serious efforts to address the spam problem through legislation, education and the development of industry codes of practice,' Senator Coonan said.

'However, we realise we can't do it alone. Technical co-operation agreements like these will add to global efforts to stop spammers from clogging our inboxes. The Government congratulates the IIA and its Chinese counterpart on this important initiative.'
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Ends


For further comment please contact:
Peter Coroneos
Chief Executive
Internet Industry Association (IIA)
Phone: +61 2 6232 6900
Fax: +61 2 6232 6513
http://www.iia.net.au


ABOUT THE IIA
The Internet Industry Association is Australia's national Internet industry organisation. Members include telecommunications carriers; content creators and publishers; web developers; e-commerce traders and solutions providers; hardware vendors; systems integrators; banks, insurance underwriters; Internet law firms, ISPs; educational and training institutions; Internet research analysts; and a range of other businesses providing professional and technical support services. On behalf of its members, the IIA provides policy input to government and advocacy on a range of business and regulatory issues, to promote laws and initiatives which enhance access, equity, reliability and growth of the medium within Australia.