News Stories - The cost of spam email
The scourge of unwanted e-mail is now so serious that it's threatening to stifle the Internet as an effective means of communication. Mr Likanen said between a third and one-half of all e-mails sent and received was now spam or junk mail. If spam isn't checked, there's concern it could severely undermine the appeal of mobile-phone-based Internet services, which are about to come onstream in Europe. Under a new EU directive, it'll shortly be an offence to send any unsolicited mail without the recipient's prior consent, but most spam comes from the United States and China and will be outside the law's reach. In contrast to Europe, the United States is considering a variety of laws which would regulate spam but essentially allow it unless an individual specifically opts out. The European Commission readily admits international co-operation is vital.
 
- vocabulary:
scourge: something that causes people a lot of problems
stifle: stop it from continuing effectively



checked: stopped
severely undermine: here, greatly reduce

come onstream: be launched
EU directive: European Union ruling
without the recipient's prior consent: without the person receiving it giving their permission in advance

outside the law's reach: here, cannot be stopped by this law because the law is limited to Europe

opts out: decides not to participate
readily admits: agrees without hesitation

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