[Chapter-delegates] Spammer bounty programme

[Tricia Drakes]

Alan

This is excellent!

Congratulations

With many good wishes.

Tricia
+44 7768 517567

-----Original Message-----
From: chapter-delegates-bounces at elists.isoc.org
[mailto:chapter-delegates-bounces at elists.isoc.org] On Behalf Of Alan Levin
Sent: 25 October 2006 10:20
To: David McAuley; ideas2007 at isoc.org
Cc: Eva Frölich; chapter-delegates at elists.isoc.org
Subject: [Chapter-delegates] Spammer bounty programme

Dear David and others,

This is a proposal that we're proposing in SA, it has value globally  
so I wanted to inform you all.

On 12 Oct 2006, at 10:44 PM, David McAuley wrote:

> So as to receive ideas and to be able to present them to the Board in
> some logical fashion, I am asking you to reply to this request not  
> later
> than Monday, October 23rd.

Sorry about the delay.. hopefully ideas have no deadline :)

> Please use this separate mail address to reply to this request:  
> ideas2007 at isoc.org
>
> TEMPLATE (MANDATORY) TO FOLLOW IN RESPLYING TO THIS REQUEST:
>
1. Working Title: Spammer Bounty programme

2. Abstract: Financially reward those members that successfully  
prosecute spammers.

3. Description: In South Africa the law is pretty clear. The problem  
is getting civil society to take the time and use the system to  
prosecute spammers. There is no incentive for individuals to take the  
5-150 hours of their time to perform this civic duty. By offering a  
reward, based on measurable outcomes, we will encourage greater  
awareness, and action from consumers on spam. We also expect that the  
programme will receive a great deal of publicity and that we can  
develop a knowledge resource about spam, and how to manage it.

4. Involvement of ISOC community; benefit for ISOC community:
All members can contribute towards building the knowledge resource  
(we're using a wiki), and of course those that are successful in  
prosecuting spammers, are rewarded with cash. This increases  
membership, knowledge and awareness of, as well as action against spam.

5. External Partners:
Sponsors for the rewards are seen as supporting this civil cause and  
obtain great publicity through that.

6. Measurable goals:
(e.g.): 2008: 8 successful bounty hunters, noticeable reduction in  
spam (ie turnaround from the tend for increasing spam). Complete  
knowledge resource on spam.
           2010: 11 successful bounty hunters, spam becomes unnoticeable
           2012: Bounty hunters are replaced by pro-active civic law  
enforcement, financial rewards are no longer required.

7. Risks: Not sure of any significant ones. It's possible that there  
won't be any members that come forward and start prosecuting, but  
it's not a risk as then there will be no costs incurred.

8. Why ISOC and not someone else?
  - it is a civil function, the ISPs address spam from a different  
perspective, and this compliments the government and business  
strategies for dealing with spam, without undermining any of them. It  
is about standards, community, netiquette, upholding policy and  
providing a value added service/programme for our members. It is  
something that the FCC have mooted in the US, but I suspect it's  
difficult for government to pay rewards, seems more appropriately  
managed through a civil society organization like ours.

Sorry that this is brief. I attach a letter we're sending out to  
sponsors at the moment.

Please send any comments or feedback. (and if you know of a potential  
sponsor willing to underwrite this, please pass on or send me feedback)

Sincerely,

Alan


---------------------------------------------
Alan Levin
Tel: +27 21 409-7997