Court threat for anti-spam law laggards

Brussels has sounded the final bell for eight member states before dragging them to court over delaying privacy laws in electronic communication.

The European Commission took the next legal step against Belgium, Germany, France, Greece, Luxembourg, Portugal, Finland and the Netherlands on Thursday, warning them to amend their national legislation or face the docks in June.

The EU-wide directive is aimed at protecting the privacy of personal data in mobile and fixed communications, including the internet – setting rules for ‘spam’ and ‘cookies’.

"We are determined to keep up the pressure on those Member States that have yet to implement the legislation they signed up in 2002,” said enterprise and information society commissioner Erkki Liikanen.

“This directive is vital to ensure that privacy and data protection are assured in an on-line world.”

“It shows effective action can be taken and enforced at a national level in the fight against spam,” continued the Finn.

“These rules set common conditions across the Union, so users know what to expect and industry and Member States know what they must do."

Brussels set the deadline for incorporating the directive into national law for November last year – a date managed by only six EU countries.

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