Transatlatic anti-spam ties strengthen

"Spam is still a problem but there is hope," said Ed Gibson, FBI assistant legal attaché at the US embassy in London. "The FBI is sponsoring this event which will address the work of Can-spam and ever more virulent viruses."

Microsoft will be sponsoring the event and the software giant is encouraged by the increased transatlantic cooperation. "A good understanding between politicians on both sides of the Atlantic is essential to fostering improved international cooperation in the fight against the spammers," said Matt Lambert director of Government affairs for Microsoft.

Last year the Department for Trade and Industry, the Office of Fair Trading and the Information Commissioner inked an agreement with the US Federal Trade Commission stating that both the UK and US would cooperate in the investigation of cross-border spam cases.

Speaking at the annual Computer and Internet Crime conference in London Michael Colao, director of information management at banking firm Dresdner Wasserstein said international spam legislation was a shambles.

"Compliance with legislation is expensive and it has little benefit to the companies involved. And Can-spam has been ineffective," he said.

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