New international agreement could mean less spam in your email inbox, CRTC says

GATINEAU, Que. -- Canada's telecom regulator is teaming up with enforcement agencies outside the country to beef up the fight against electronic spam.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission says it has signed an agreement with 10 agencies in eight countries, with the goal of better enforcing anti-spam laws.

Canada's own law, which came into effect nearly two years ago, has resulted in a significant drop in digital spam originating in Canada, according to email marketing firm Cyberimpact.

And while the law has resulted in some big fines, including one last year for $1.1 million against Quebec-based Compu-Finder, legal experts have questioned whether Canadian authorities might have difficulty enforcing the law against companies in foreign jurisdictions.

But CRTC chairman Jean-Pierre Blais says the agreement sends a strong message that the international enforcement community intends to stop spammers from sending annoying -- and sometimes dangerous -- electronic spam.

Signatories include Canada's privacy commissioner, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and Federal Communications Commission, communications and consumer authorities in Australia, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, and agencies in Korea, New Zealand and South Africa.