Bill would crack down on spam

The Fair Trade Commission declared war on spammers yesterday, saying that starting next year, it will fine and prosecute businesses that send out e-mail without the recipient’s consent. The agency said it has presented to the National Assembly a revised consumer protection bill governing businesses that sell products over the Internet. If the bill passes, these companies must ask their customers for permission before sending them promotional e-mails. The bill also applies to advertisements sent to mobile phones and fax machines. Online stores will have to go to the Fair Trade Commission’s anti-spam Web site, www. nospam.go.kr, to confirm whether an individual wants promotional e-mail or not. Those who don’t want spam should go to the Web site, which has been running since 2002, and register their name, e-mail addresses and fax or cellphone numbers. Any company found to have sent spam without the customers’ permission will be fined up to 10 million won ($9,960). Repeat offenders will be prosecuted under criminal laws. Companies will have until the end of the year to sort out technical and procedural matters regarding their current spam practices. by Wohn Dong-hee