AOL, Microsoft, Yahoo Collaborate To Fight Spam

The companies plan to hold open discussions on the topic with each other and other industry groups, including law enforcement agencies. The focus will be on protecting customers from spam, preventing spammers from using e-mail services and blocking e-mails coming in from unprotected or open systems.

The companies said they also intend to develop best-of-breed practices in the hope that other industry players adopt the standards. They want to encourage service providers to share resources, such as a database of known spammers and consumer complaints.

Spam is increasing at an alarming rate, with Yahoo recently telling CRN that the ISP has seen a 500 percent increase in unsolicited junk e-mail in the past 18 months.

Research firm Gartner predicts that ISPs with 1 million users currently spend $7 million annually to fight spam.

To combat spam, many say it will take a group effort such as the collaboration between AOL, Yahoo and Microsoft, although those companies have not been known to collaborate well in the past. AOL, for example, has repeatedly blocked interoperability between its own instant messaging service and rival offerings from Microsoft and Yahoo. Part of its stated rationale, however, was to keep its members from receiving unsolicited spam from outside the system.

In addition to collaboration, ISPs overall say a combination of technology, legislation and litigation is necessary.

AOL has won lawsuits against spammers in the past and is currently suing five in Virginia for damages of more than $10 million.