The OECD held a two-day workshop on February 2-3 in Brussels, hosted by the European Commission, with the objective of exploring the growing problem of spam. The main focus was on the international dimensions of spam and the development of a coordinated OECD work program on the issue.
USCIB members, ICC and BIAC cooperated in presenting business views at the workshop, to ensure that an effective and coherent business voice was heard at the event. There was at least one business representative on each panel, plus numerous contributions from the floor by members of ICC and BIAC.
EU Commissioner Erkki Liikanen opened the workshop by outlining the Commission's commitment to fighting spam, particularly through better cooperation on international enforcement initiatives.
USCIB members made significant contributions to a joint ICC-BIAC discussion paper on spam. The paper emphasizes the difference between harmful or fraudulent e-mail - the classic definition of spam - and unsolicited commercial electronic communications from reputable businesses. It calls cooperation between governments, business and civil society essential, proposing a four-pronged approach of education and awareness, technological approaches, business self-regulation and enforcement of legislative initiatives.
Business representatives who spoke at the workshop included Christopher Kuner (Hunton & Williams), Joseph Alhadeff (Oracle), Kaz Maekawa (Fujitsu), Beatrice Delmas Linel (Microsoft), Hubert van Breemen (VNO), Jeremy Beale (Confederation of British Industry), Fran Maier (TRUSTe), Charles Prescott (Direct Marketing Association) and Alastair Tempest (Federation of European Direct Marketing Associations).
ICC’s Global Spam-Fighting Resource was well received at the workshop as it underlines business's commitment to concrete measures to fight spam. The resource is a worldwide inventory to help Internet users reduce their exposure to unwanted e-mail. It contains practical information on how to opt out of unsolicited commercial e-mail and spam in over 30 countries.
The OECD will produce a report and work program of actions while ICC and BIAC continue to work closely together to ensure that future work in this area is coordinated and maximizes the interests of the global business community.
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OECD Backs Broadband for Economic and Social Development – The OECD has called on governments to do more to encourage the development of broadband, emphasizing its importance for economic, social and cultural development worldwide and warning about the risk of missed opportunities from failing to do so. Signaling the importance attached by OECD governments to broadband development, the OECD's governing council, in February, approved a series of policy recommendations to guide governments in implementing effective measures. "Taking advantage of the opportunities provided by broadband access can enhance many areas of individual and economic activity," OECD Secretary General Donald Johnston said. "It can also, through e-government, make public administration itself more efficient and effective."
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