What are Internet Service Providers doing about spam?
The Canadian Association of Internet Providers (CAIP) requires that its members abide by a “Fair Practices Document” that includes the following rule: “CAIP Members will not knowingly allow their services to be used for the transmission of unsolicited bulk e-mail especially unsolicited commercial bulk email between parties that have had no previous commercial relationship.” Like CAIP members, most ISPs have Acceptable Use Policies for their customers, which typically place limits on the volume and type of outgoing e-mail permitted. See, for example, AOLs policy on unsolicited bulk e-mail. In the effort to contain spam and respond to customer demand, most ISPs offer filtering services of one type or another. No filter is 100% effective however, and ISPs must be cautious not to filter out legitimate e-mail messages. For an example, see Bell Sympatico’s explanation of its filtering service. CAIP also provides a “tip sheet” for consumers on dealing with spam.
