News coverage of the International Council for Internet Communications

Washington Internet Times, 08/02/04

INTERNATIONAL SPAM COUNCIL ANNOUNCED BY INTERNET POLICY INSTITUTE

International Spam Law and Policy Conference Draws People from Around the World

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - August 2, 2004 - Spam. As if we don't get enough of it at work, home, and everywhere in between, dozens of people descended on the Westin Hotel at San Francisco Airport last Thursday, some coming from as far away as Japan and France, just to hear people talk about the junk email.

For this much anticipated international sequel to its highly successful National Spam the Law conference, the Institute for Spam and Internet Public Policy (ISIPP) put together an impressive roster of speakers, each of them a top expert in both their field, and with respect to the country from which they came. Conference-goers heard from Microsoft's top spam-busting attorney in Europe, from a member of Canada's Federal Anti-Spam Task Force, and from the California Deputy Attorney General in charge of spam enforcement. They heard from "Internet for Dummies" author John Levine, the Children's Spam Registry author and attorney Matthew Prince, and spammer slammer lawyer John Praed. And more.

And the message was clear: in order to put a lid on spam, there must be international cooperation in an increasingly borderless online world.

Saving the surprise announcement for last, ISIPP president Anne P. Mitchell, Esq., told the audience of ISP and spam filter executives, email marketers, and internet attorneys that the Institute had founded the International Council for Internet Communications, a private industry group consisting of high level executives and attorneys providing information and context regarding their respective countries of expertise and practice, and each having connections to one or more leaders in the industry in that country. Charter members include Lindsay Barton of the Australian National Office for the Information Economy, Britain's Member of Parliament Mr. Derek White, Furio Ercolessi of the University of Udine, Italy, attorney Jean-Christophe Le Toquin of Microsoft's Europe-Middle East-Africa office, Suresh Ramasubramanian of India-based ISP Outblaze, attorney and advisor to the government of Taiwan Christopher Neumeyer, and Canadian attorney and professor of law Michael Geist, along with Mitchell herself. Each member of the Council, dubbed "ICIC", participates as a private individual, and not as a representative of the institution for whom they work.

Said ICIC member Lindsay Barton, "This group is potentially very useful because it is a small, dynamic group of well placed thought-leaders in the technology, policy, and legislative arenas, and it spans a number of sectors and backgrounds. By acting as a group of passionate individuals, not as representatives any government, company or organisation, we can eschew the processes and protocols that (appropriately) exist in, and between, such organisations. This should allow us to fast-track the initial examination and development of emerging concepts and facilitate their consideration and uptake by the more formal structures, as well as providing a useful linking role internationally and cross-organisationally."

Added another member of the Council, "We need to prove to spammers that if they take advantage of the borderless nature of the Internet, we too can take advantage of it, and demonstrate that by no means is the Internet out of reach of the law."

Mitchell said that one of the first projects the Council will tackle is putting together a much-needed set of web pages comparing and contrasting the various international laws which govern the sending of email. When asked what may be next, Mitchell replied "It could be any number of things. We have an amazing amount of brain-power, experience, and passion for the issues embodied in the Council. The one thing, above all, which these council members have in common is a dedication to and a passion for the issues, and a desire to make the Internet a better place; combined with their knowledge and expertise, we have the potential to do amazing things."

Information about the International Council for Internet Communications is available at http://www.isipp.com, or write to info@isipp.com.