The METI decided to introduce the opt-in scheme in sending electronic e-mail for sales promotion. It was reported July 27, 200y.[1]
Current status
As to the measures for spam issue, our domestic two laws embody the opt-out rule: the Specific Commercial Transaction Act and the Specific Electronic Mail Act. Each law has different purposes except to consumer protection: the Specific Commercial Transaction Act is primarily to regulate distance selling businesses by e-mail whereas the Specific Electronic Mail Act aims securing communication in addition to the protection of internet providers principally.Initially, a METI officer stated it in the seminar held on March 28th, 2007. [2] The officer suggested the reform of the specific Commercial Transaction Act. After that, our government stated discussion concerning the law revision on the advisory panel of METI minister; on the other hand, there is no information about law reform in the General Affairs Ministry[3]
Background
Our government pointed out the effectiveness of the opt-out scheme for the measure of the spam e-mail; consumers were necessary to send his rejection mail to the senders in case that he wanted such e-mail no more; but it meant that the receiver informed his effective e-mail to sender; as a result, the e-mail address might be targeted by spammers. However, such bad influence by the opt-out scheme has been already well known previously. The law revision introducing the opt-in rule is welcomed for consumer. Currently, it is said that our government is considering how to get prior acceptance by the consumers, in addition to the expiration date of acceptance.
updated on July 30th, 2007
[1] http://www.nikkei.co.jp/news/keizai/20070729AT3S2800N28072007.html
[2] http://internet.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/event/2007/05/29/15865.html [3]  http://www.soumu.go.jp/s-news/2007/070717_2.html
