KEY POINTS:
The internet Society of New Zealand has applauded an anti-spam crackdown by the Department of Internal Affairs yesterday.
The department carried out anti-spam raids in Christchurch in an effort to stem the tide of illegal electronic mail flooding in-boxes.
The department seized 22 computers as well as boxes of documents from four Christchurch addresses, thought to be part of an international spamming operation.
The recently established anti-spam unit was investigating claims that a Christchurch business organised affiliates around the world to send spam on its behalf, offering pharmaceutical products and watches.
InternetNZ executive director Keith Davidson said the raid illustrated the importance of the recently-passed Unsolicited Electronic Messages Act, which prohibits sending unsolicited, commercial, electronic messages with a New Zealand link.
He congratulated the anti-spam unit for "investigating and raiding what appears to be a sophisticated New Zealand-based international spam operation.
"This should send a clear message that New Zealand-based spammers can no longer act with impunity," said Mr Davidson.
The Unsolicited Electronic Messages Act came into effect on September 5.
As well as preventing local spam, the act is designed to prevent New Zealand from becoming an international spam haven and brings New Zealand in line with anti-spam law in other countries.
Penalties for breaching the act range from warnings to infringement notices and court action.
The maximum fine is $500,000 for an organisation or $200,000 for an individual.
- NZPA
