Spam email costs UK users £6.4bn

Frits Bolkestein, internal market commissioner for the EC, claimed the lax take up of EU data protection directives across member states means many marketing companies can still access consumer information through web transactions.

He said many internet users are unaware of their rights to privacy under laws to stop junk email.

The two relevant directives allow users to opt in or out of cyber marketing simply by ticking a box. However, Bolkestein said the lack of a coherent policy means countries have conflicting default settings.

However, Bolkestein added that some countries, including France, Ireland, Luxembourg and Germany, have failed to offer any protection at all.

Bolkestein said the study will help the commission devise a more comprehensive policy to protect consumers from unwanted email.