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E-mail prior consent rule would ruin charities and e-commerce
November 12, 2001 12:00 AM
Baroness Sarah Ludford, Liberal Democrat MEP for London, is warning of the setback for charity fundraising and European firms' chances of breaking into e-commerce if the Socialists and Greens succeed [on the Cappato report on electronic communications] in enforcing a "prior consent" rule for sending e-mails.
Sarah Ludford said: "No regulation will stop 'spammers', who act illegally already. But a Europe-wide rule requiring prior consent to receive a first e-mail will demolish the attempts of charities and European firms to make contact through direct marketing with new donors or customers.
"The European Parliament should stick to the proposal from the Rapporteur, Marco Cappato, backed by the Citizen's Rights committee. This is for national governments to be able to choose an opt-out regime allowing subscribers to instruct that no more e-mails be sent.
"An opt-in regime (whereby subscribers would have to give explicit consent to receive the first contact) raises civil liberties concerns. If an individual had to make a request to receive material from e.g. gay organisations or subversive political movements, this could make them a target for malicious abuse or unwarranted surveillance."
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