By Andrew Garton

In May 1997, 5 of the largest spammers in the US formed the Internet Email Marketing Council (IEMMC). CyberTize Email, Cyber Promotions, Integrated Media Promotions Corp., Internet Savings Group and Quantum Communications have all, from time to time, received many of my frustrated efforts to have my email address removed from their mailing lists.

After a significant backlash from Internet commuters, the IEMMC was founded to promote the responsible and ethical use of direct email as a marketing tool on the Internet. Whether you like it or not, it appears as though spam is here to stay. However, the IEMMC has introduced a new service that it alleges will remove your address from their accumulated lists.

Recently, I received email announcing the arrival of a new brand of laundry detergent. It was sent to an alias email address, which really surprised me as I hardly use it. Anyway, the header of the offending spam informed me that I could have my address removed from this mailing list by heading to the IEMMC website.

Once at IEMMC, I followed the link, "To begin the list removal process." This takes you to the Global Remove List Request Form. After providing your email address you should receive a "token", a small set of numbers, which you use to validate your request. I went back and entered four addresses, all of which receive spam of all and sundry.

The process is simple. The IEMMC adds your address to a "global remove filter" stripping you from mailing lists used by their member organisations. How efficient it is, remains to be seen. Or perhaps, I've just offered up my addresses to a new world of spam all ready to flood my mailbox with soap-suds to tax havens.

www.iemmc.org/

Yes or No to Spam?

While They're Not Watching