Is 'Comment SPAM' illegal?

Below you will see an example of 'Comment Spam'; Annonymous seems to "like what we're doing" (really), and would like Compliance speak readers to have a look at their 'autocad' site. Mmmm. Lets simplify things by assuming that the poster (or instigator) resides in the UK. Unlikely I know. Would this be illegal? Has the poster breached the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003? Is this unsolicited 'electronic mail' for the purposes of direct marketing? I think so! Is it illegal? Probably not. Comments made to Compliance speak are in effect 'email', and compliance speak is operated by a corporate subscriber. The responsibility of the sender is therefore to identify themselves AND provide a vaild opt-out mechanism. A little bit of surfing demonstrates that they fulfil both of the obligations above; so legal! Now to see if they honour my request not to send unsolicited dm messages to compliance speak. Fat Chance!

Acceptable Use Policies; the 'gossamer safety net'

The threat of employment related litigation has led most companies to develop and promulgate Acceptable Use Policies (AUPs) as a first-line safety net. The problem with many of these AUPs is that they are gossamer thin, and often left to rot in the corner, unattended, unused and plunging towards obsolescence! These policies are there to protect the organisation (and the employee) and have a very specific risk-management purpose; a purpose that is frequently unfulfilled. The soft underbelly of many AUPs is the inconsistency with which they are applied and enforced. The root cause of this is, I contend, a failure to apply a technology led, business process model to policy management. In short; 'too many ring-binders and not enough intranet'. The paper policy chase is ineffectual, expensive and increasingly likely to incur the wrath of Regulators as requirements for corporate govenance continue to grow.

"It's not the name before the '@ sign' that's going to get in trouble; it's the name after it that will"

Michelle Drolet, president and CEO of ConQwest

60 Second Survey

Are the DMA doing the right thing? On the iCompli website this month we're running a '60 second survey'™ to gauge opinion on the proposed DMA Code of Practice changes. Why not add your 'two penneth' clicky clicky , it only takes 60 seconds, after all!