How to control spam mail

Sent to 2 newspapers.

30 April 2007

Editor

The government is introducing legislation to control unsolicited advertising mail, also called "spam" mail. It will require the advertisers to indicate "ADV" in the mail and to allow an option to "unsubscribe".

Some people are sceptical about this measure. They think that it will not work. It may encourage the advertisers to increase their mailing, as it is now specifically authorised.

I think that this new measure is a step in the right direction. It should help control the unsolicited mail to a certain extent.

I like to suggest an additional measure:

* require the advertiser to register with an approved website
* the opt-out list should be managed by the website
* the advertiser has to comply with the opt-out list managed by the website
* the website can require the advertiser to pay a fee for this service
* the government can approve a few of these websites.

I believe that this measure will help to further control the proliferation of unsolicited mail.

Tan Kin Lian