Email spam and the increasing level of unsolicited commercial text messages will be curtailed by new regulations to be implemented at the end of October.
The Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Ahern, today announced a consultative process ahead of the implementation of an EU directive aimed at providing greater privacy for users of electronic communication networks.
The new regulations will allow subscribers to determine which elements of their stored personal data can made available to others and place the onus on companies to ensure they have user consent before passing on personal information to a third party.
Companies will also be obliged to seek consent before disseminating the location data of its users and the use of Internet cookies and similar devices will also be curtailed.
The growing trend of direct marketing through mobile phones, fax and automated calling systems will also be addressed.
Minster Ahern is asking the public and business community to contribute to the development of the regulations though the process will only be open until August 20th.
"Problems with Internet usage such as Spamming and unsolicited marketing may now be restricted under these regulations which will be an important step in ensuring the protection and privacy in the use of electronic communications networks and services," Mr Ahern said.
Powers to enforce the regulations will be give to the communications regulator, ComReg, and the Data Protection Commissioner.