December 5, 2007

Current Status of Research and Development on Technologies for Contributing to Prevention of the Occurrence of Disturbances upon Transmission and Reception of Electronic Mails Caused by Specified Electronic Mails, etc., and Introduction Status of Such Technologies by Telecommunications Carriers Providing Electronic Mail Communications Services

Pursuant to the provisions of the Law on Regulation of Transmission of Specified Electronic Mail, MIC has compiled and disclosed the current status of research and development on technologies for contributing to prevention of the occurrence of disturbances upon transmission and reception of Electronic Mails caused by Specified Electronic Mails, etc., and introduction status of such technologies by telecommunications carriers providing Electronic Mail communications services.

1. Background
Article 13 of the Law on Regulation of Transmission of Specified Electronic Mail (Law No. 26 of 2002) stipulates that the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications shall, at least once a year, disclose the status of research and development on technologies for contributing to prevention of the occurrence of disturbances upon transmission and reception of Electronic Mails caused by Specified Electronic Mails, etc., and introduction status of such technologies by telecommunications carriers providing Electronic Mail communications services.

The term "Specified Electronic Mail" refers to an Electronic Mail that is sent by a person or entity whose purpose is to send an advertisement for profit to people other than those who have acknowledged such transmission in writing.

2. Current status
Telecommunications carriers, regardless of whether mobile communications carriers or fixed communications carriers, are striving to strengthen technologies for preventing unsolicited Electronic Mails for the purpose of improving their services.

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International Policy Division,
International Affairs Department
Telecommunications Bureau, MIC
TEL: +81 3 5253 5920 / FAX: +81 3 5253 5924