Plans by Europe to ban anonymous e-mail are to be ditched because such a move would simply be unworkable, The Register has learned.

Last month, the European Parliament's Committee for Citizens' Freedoms Rights, Justice and Home Affairs, said that banning anonymous e-mail would help thwart the activities of cybercriminals.

But a source close to Europe claims that the Council of Ministers will ditch the proposals when it comes before them at the end of the month.

It's understood that EU ministers believe such a scheme would be completely unenforceable.

The plans have no support, one insider said. ®