Regulating unwanted Internet advertising

Defining electronic spam

Description

Regulating unwanted Internet advertising involves implementing legal, technical, and policy measures to limit intrusive, deceptive, or unsolicited online ads. This strategy aims to protect users’ privacy, reduce digital clutter, and prevent the spread of malware or misinformation. Practical actions include enforcing opt-in consent, establishing clear advertising standards, deploying ad-blocking technologies, and penalizing non-compliant advertisers, thereby ensuring a safer, more user-friendly online environment and addressing consumer complaints about disruptive digital marketing practices.

Implementation

In 1999, the European Commission prepared a new directive regulating Internet advertising. Under the terms of the proposal, all member states would have to ensure that consumers can register their names – on so-called opt-out registers – if they do not wish to receive unsolicited commercial offers. Internet service providers would have to monitor these registers on a regular basis, in order to ensure that consumers' wishes are being followed.