ISPs and spam police
The large ISPs and the antispammers have a somewhat uneasy relationship.
Both are on the same side in the fight against spam. But large ISPs such as EarthLink, WorldCom, AT&T and AOL Time Warner don't use the MAPS blacklists, they have internal spam teams that respond to customer complaints and enforce acceptable use policies.
These ISPs work with their customers to close open relays, enforce opt-in policies and encourage end users to filter e-mail.
They don't go along with the more hard-line approach of server-level blocking that antispammers advocate.
In a somewhat strange twist, these ISPs - which, after all, are the real victims of spam - sometimes find themselves on the spam cops' blacklist because one of their customers sends out spam.
Craig Silliman, director of the network and facilities legal team for WorldCom, is periodically forced to defend WorldCom against spam charges, even though they've never been blacklisted.
Adds AT&T spokesman Bill Hoffman, "Like law enforcement, we react, investigate and collect data, but sometimes antispam groups say we don't act fast enough."
RELATED LINKS
Contact Features Writer Suzanne Gaspar
Other recent articles by Gaspar
The Spam Police
Spam accounts for as much as 50% of an ISP's e-mail traffic flow. Read how spam can cause damage and steps you can take to prevent it.
The spam police force
Organizations to help you fight spam.
How the blacklist system works
File an e-mail complaint with the Mail Abuse Prevention System hotline if you think you have received spam.
Q & A with David Rand
David Rand is a founding member of Mail Abuse Prevention System (MAPS). He sat down with Network World feature writer Sharon Gaudin to talk about battling spam.
Antispam-related URLs
Click on these to help you prevent spam.
Spam rebel with a cause
Find out if your mail provider is using the RBL services of the cyber-goons at MAPS.
Network World, 07/02/01.
ISPs fight spam from the front line
There is little doubt that you have a grueling job when your business card reads 'senior abuse administrator.'
Network World, 05/24/01.
The spam-tastic year 2000
Unwanted spam gave one e-mail user plenty to complain about in 2000.
PC World, 01/03/01.
