Spam Inquiry Press Release

13th June 2003

For immediate release

Press Release – All Party Parliamentary Internet Group to hold public inquiry on "spam"

The All Party Parliamentary Internet Group (APIG) is to hold a public inquiry into stemming the flow of bulk unsolicited email ("spam") to UK Internet users.

The inquiry will focus upon the following:

  • The developing legislative situation (UK, EU, US and elsewhere);
  • Technical methods that may prevent spam reaching users;
  • Social methods that may prevent problems with spam;
  • Future trends in spam; and
  • Spam’s effect on other platforms (e.g. mobile phones and other devices)

APIG calls upon interested parties to present written evidence to the inquiry before June 25th 2003.

Public hearings will be held in the House of Commons on the 3rd and10th July when MPs will hold oral evidence sessions with industry, Government and the public.

To launch its work on spam, APIG is hosting a "Spam Summit" in Westminster on 1st July 2003. Due to limited space, attendance at the Summit will be by invitation only. For further information on the Spam Summit please email spamsummit@gbc.co.uk.

Derek Wyatt MP, Joint-Chair of APIG said:

"Spam will soon be the majority of emails sent. Ultimately we will need a new global level organisation to "hold" issues about the Internet and APIG’s evidence sessions will be an opportunity to explore this area as well as look for more immediate inter-government action and technical solutions."

Richard Allan MP, Joint-Treasurer of APIG said:

"Dealing with spam is a key issue in helping to make the Internet usable for people in the UK. It is essential that we find solutions that the industry can employ to ensure that email use is not severely affected by the continued growth in spam levels."

Brian White MP, Joint-Treasurer of APIG said:

"In order to increase user confidence in the Internet and increase take-up levels for broadband it is essential that all stakeholders work together to combat the growing of spam."

Written evidence should be submitted to inquiry@apig.org.uk by 25th June 2003. APIG may, at its discretion, ask for oral evidence from witnesses on 3rd July and 10th July at the House of Commons. The inquiry's report is expected to be published in the autumn.

Note to Editors:

Derek Wyatt MP is the Labour MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey. He is a leading campaigner on Internet issues in Parliament.
Richard Allan MP is the Liberal Democrat IT spokesman and represents Sheffield Hallam.
Brian White MP is a leading Labour backbencher on technology issues representing Milton Keynes North East.
The All Party Parliamentary Internet Group exists to provide a discussion forum between new media industries and parliamentarians. Accordingly, the group considers Internet issues as they affect society, informing Parliamentary debate through meetings, informal receptions, inquiries and reports. The group is open to all members of the Houses of Parliament.

Enquiries about the work of the Committee:

Telephone: 020 7233 7322
Fax: 020 7233 7294
e-mail: inquiry@gbc.co.uk

APIG Inquiry: Guidelines for Witnesses

The All Party Parliamentary Internet Group announced an inquiry into “spam” on 13th June 2003. The inquiry is anxious to receive as wide a range of submissions as possible.

1. More information about APIG can be found at http://www.apig.org.uk
2. Recent documents of relevance to the inquiry include:

The Telecoms Data Protection Directive (97/66/EC).

The Directive on Privacy and Electronic Communications (2002/58/EC).

The DTI consultation on the implementation of the Directive on Privacy and Electronic Communications

The E-Commerce Directive (implementing Regulations have provisions affecting UCE)

3. Members of Parliament daily receive a mass of papers. If a memorandum is to command their attention, it should be brief and to the point. In particular, it should address the matters raised by the inquiry and concentrate on the issues with which the witness has a special interest. A typical length would be about 1,000 words. Essential statistics or further details can be added as appendices.

4. It would be greatly appreciated if memoranda could be submitted electronically either in plain ASCII, Adobe PDF format or in Microsoft Word .DOC or .RTF format. Ideally, pages and paragraphs should be numbered. Memoranda should be dated, with the name, address and telephone number of the person in the organization who is responsible for submission given at the end. Memoranda should be submitted to the address at the end of this notice.

5. It is at the inquiry's discretion to print any evidence it receives. Any information that a witness would not wish to be considered for publication should be clearly marked.

6. The inquiry has asked for all written evidence to be submitted by 25th June 2003 although extensions to that deadline may be considered. The inquiry may decide, having read a memorandum, to invite a witness to give oral evidence.

Evidence may be submitted to:

APIG Secretariat,
23 Palace Street,
London
SW1E 5HW

Electronic submissions (in plain ASCII, Adobe PDF or Microsoft Word .DOC or .RTF formats) are preferred and can be emailed to inquiry@apig.org.uk.