Leader: Spam sufferers - show some more patience

The latest attempt to out-legislate the spammers was launched in London today with pleas to the media to bite our tongues when it comes to the - with hindsight justified - cynicism which met previous initiatives. We are trying. Honest.

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is sitting down to talk with the EU, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) and the UK information commissioner. They are promising less talk and more action - peppering such bullish statements with phrases such as "just do it" which even in context sounded like a pretty lame sound bite.

The media, the industry and the end users, now largely convinced effective technology rather than policy will start to turn around the high levels of spam have been promised an improvement in return for our patience.

"Wait and see," said John Vickers, chairman of the OFT.

We're waiting. Everybody accepts the issue of spam will not be sorted out overnight. We knew that last year when the All Party Internet Group (APIG) released the findings of its Spam Summit and resulting recommendations. And we know that now, when nothing has improved to this day.

Of course legislators and regulators need to get involved and if they can make a genuine difference this time around silicon.com will be at the front of the queue to praise their efforts.

But Richard Thomas, UK information commissioner, admits he doesn't have adequate resources or powers for the fight and while the united front between the US and the UK appears a positive move, especially as a sign of greater cross-border co-operation, it also raises as many questions as it answers.

The problem with united fronts is they often seem almost too chummy to be of much use. Perhaps behind the scenes the UK contingent did lay into the US party from the FTC for America's botched handling of the anti-spam debate but it is highly unlikely.

Deborah Majoras, chair of the FTC, denied the US was any more to blame than other major sources of spam, refuted suggestions that many spammers are known to the anti-spam community and basically adopted a 'not on my watch' attitude which smacked more of 'head in the sand' than 'problem in hand'.

Meanwhile neither the OFT nor the information commissioner had the inclination or factual intelligence to pull her up on either assertion. Similarly there was little visible representation from other countries such as China and Russia which if this is to be a truly effective, global crack down, is absolutely essential.

Frank discussion and an admission of past failings - and a genuine willingness to learn from past mistakes - is necessary if policy makers and politicos are to play an effective part and achieve more than just being seen to do something.

silicon.com also took issue with the notion of the OFT that end user education needs to play as big a part as seeking the 'big wins' such as greater cooperation from ISPs. While end user education is, of course, an essential part of the puzzle it is the most unknown quantity and the one which, if experience, particularly in the launching of email-borne viruses, has taught us anything is always going to be the most frustratingly ineffective, especially when all parties admitted there are no plans afoot - that they are aware of - for any kind of publicity campaign.

silicon.com will be watching closely to hear what new measures and powers and shared resources come out of this latest gathering.

We will wait and see and we will hope for an improvement - certainly that has been promised, now it has to be delivered.

"Just do it."