Anti-Spam Laws And The European Union

Check out our information on the European Union's anti-spam laws and also explore the individual laws of seperate European nations.

European Union

• E-Privacy Directive:  Directive 2002/58/EC Concerning the Processing of Personal Data and the Protection of Privacy in the Electronic Communications Sector, 2002 O.J. (L 201) 37   [EUR-Lex]  [EuroCAUCE]
• E-Commerce Directive:  Directive 2000/31/EC on Certain Legal Aspects of Information Society Services, in Particular Electronic Commerce, in the Internal Market, 2000 O.J. (L 178) 1   [EUR-Lex]  [EuroCAUCE]
• Telecommunications Privacy Directive:  Directive 97/66/EC Concerning the Processing of Personal Data and the Protection of Privacy in the Telecommunications Sector, 1998 O.J. (L 024) 1 (repealed and replaced by Directive 2002/58/EC)   [EUR-Lex]
• Distance Contracts Directive:  Directive 97/7/EC on the Protection of Consumers in Respect of Distance Contracts, 1997 O.J. (L 144) 19   [EUR-Lex]
• Data Protection Directive:  Directive 95/46/EC on the Protection of Individuals with Regard to the Processing of Personal Data and on the Free Movement of Such Data, 1995 O.J. (L 281) 31   [EUR-Lex]  [Privacy.Org]  [CDT]
• European Commission study:  "Junk" E-Mail Costs Internet Users Euro 10 Billion a Year Worldwide (Feb. 2, 2001)
• Internal Market Directorate General
• EUR-LEX: European Union Law
• European Coalition Against Unsolicited Commercial Email (EuroCAUCE)
• EuroCAUCE Survey of Countries

Austria

• Austrian Data Protection Commission
• Austrian Legal Provisions on Direct Marketing
• EuroCAUCE Survey: Austria

Belgium

• EuroCAUCE Survey: Belgium

Czech Republic

• (English translation)
• Antispam.cz
• EuroCAUCE Survey: Czech Republic

Denmark

• Danish Consumer Ombudsman, Collapse of Internet Negotiations (Sept. 30, 1998)
• Foreningen for Ansvarlig Brug af EmaiL (FABEL) [Association for Responsible Use of Email]
• Nordic Consumer Ombudsmen's Position Paper to Trading and Marketing on the Internet and in Similar Communication Systems (Dec. 30, 1998) (press release)
• EuroCAUCE Survey: Denmark

Finland

• Personal Data Act (adopted March 1999) (Finnish | Swedish)
• Nordic Consumer Ombudsmen's Position Paper to Trading and Marketing on the Internet and in Similar Communication Systems (Dec. 30, 1998) (press release)
• Spämmäys ja lainsäädäntö
• EuroCAUCE Survey: Finland

France

• Commission Nationale de l'Informatique et des Libertés (CNIL) [National Data Processing and Liberties Commission], Electronic Mailing and Data Protection (Oct. 14, 1999) (French) (press release)
• EuroCAUCE Survey: France

Germany

• Court decisions on e-Mail advertising
• Antispam.de
• EuroCAUCE Survey: Germany

Greece

• EuroCAUCE Survey: Greece

Ireland

• EuroCAUCE Survey: Ireland

Italy

• Legislative Decree Implementing Distance Contracts Directive (May 22, 1999)
• Pagina Antispam in italiano
• EuroCAUCE Survey: Italy

Luxembourg

• EuroCAUCE Survey: Luxembourg

Netherlands

• Telecommunications Act articles 11.7, 11.8
• OPTA
• Code Verspreiding Reclame via E-mail
• Spamvrij.nl (antispam foundation)
• EuroCAUCE Survey: Netherlands

Norway

• Act No. 47 of 16 June 1972 relating to the Control of Marketing and Contract Terms and Conditions (Marketing Control Act) § 2a (as amended effective March 1, 2001)
• Nordic Consumer Ombudsmen's Position Paper to Trading and Marketing on the Internet and in Similar Communication Systems (Dec. 30, 1998) (press release)
• EuroCAUCE Survey: Norway

Portugal

• EuroCAUCE Survey: Portugal

Spain

• EuroCAUCE Survey: Spain

Sweden

• Marknadsföringslag (1995:450) (Marketing Practices Act)
• Nordic Consumer Ombudsmen's Position Paper to Trading and Marketing on the Internet and in Similar Communication Systems (Dec. 30, 1998) (press release)
• EuroCAUCE Survey: Sweden

United Kingdom

• U.K. Dep't of Trade & Industry, Implementation of EU Directive 97/7/EC on the Protection of Consumers in Respect of Distance Contracts: A Further Consultation Paper, Nov. 1999 -- annex A
• U.K. Office of Fair Trading, Problems with Online Shopping?
• EuroCAUCE Survey: United Kingdom