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Spam On The Increase And Consumers Blame Marketers

65 Percent of Consumers Receiving More Spam Than Ever

Seattle - April 25, 2005 - A recent major opinion poll of 20 countries by global market research solutions company GMI found that the majority of online consumers are receiving more spam than they did a year ago and blame marketers ahead of their Internet Service Providers (ISPs) for the problem.

"Spam is a global problem which ISPs and the marketing industry have been forced to address. It is surprising that despite their best efforts the marketing industry is held responsible. It is important that industry practices continue to be improved globally and consumer trust in e-marketing protected." said Mitch Eggers, Chief Pollster, GMI.

Of the 20,000 online consumers surveyed in the GMI Poll, 65 percent reported that they are receiving more spam than 12 months ago. The majority of spam received, some 29.5 percent globally, is sexual in nature. However, financial spam – the second largest subject 22.5 percent - is the number one offender in the U.S., China, Russia, India, Denmark and Poland.

Despite anti-spam legislation and the proliferation of software and services to tackle it, over half of consumers still choose to delete spam manually, for example some 53.5 percent of Americans. However, of the countries polled the use of anti-spam software was the most popular in the U.S. where 43 percent of respondents had it installed.

The good news is that only 11 percent of the people polled said that the rise in spam has greatly impacted their use of the Internet. Nonetheless, on closer inspection of the data consumer caution does exist. When directly questioned about the effect of spam on their Internet usage, 69 percent of respondents said that they now only open mail from people that they know. Another alarming spam bi-product is its effect on online shopping. Globally one in five respondent said they now shopped less online because of spam and Internet based scams. This rose to one in every three in the U.S.

When asked who they think is to blame for the relentless increase of junk email, the majority – 57 percent – said the marketing and advertising industries are the prime culprits. ISPs came a close second in most countries – for example, in the U.S. 41.4 percent versus 62.7 percent. This was reversed in Russia and Japan – 66 percent and 70.5 percent blaming ISPs compared to 38 percent and 45.5 percent blaming marketers. Overall, only 20 percent of people globally held their governments responsible.

About GMI Poll

GMI Poll quickly and accurately gathers international opinions about topical issues and critical global events, with real-time results available in as little as 24 hours. GMI Poll is the only survey that polls global opinions in real time, online, and with statistically accurate results.

About GMI

GMI (Global Market Insite, Inc.) is the only company that provides comprehensive integrated solutions for global market intelligence for both market research firms and corporate market research departments at Global 2000 companies. Solutions include Net-MR®, a suite of software tools to manage and automate research throughout the project lifecycle, desktop analysis tools, 24x7x365 service bureau capabilities, and one of the world’s largest, highly profiled, double opt-in managed panels, spanning across 200 countries. In addition, GMI offers high-value, real-time enterprise feedback solutions for customer, partner and employee programs. Founded in 1999 with world headquartersin Seattle, Wash., GMI has operations on five continents.