Lance Atkinson, a resident of Sunshine Coast, has been accused of being the mastermind behind the world's largest online spam operation, under which as many as 10 billion e-mails can be sent in a single day, and the alleged spammer was today presented in a Brisbane court.

The 26 year old spammer has admitted to being behind a "large-scale spam-sending operation that sent emails to internet users all over the world". Through these e-mails, receivers were encouraged to get to websites that used "false claims to peddle prescription drugs, as well as male enhancement and weight-loss pills".

US authorities have already slapped Atkinson with a $16 Million fine, and today morning, he faced court action slammed by the Australian Communications and Media Authority. Brisbane's Federal Court was informed that not only had Atkinson sent spam e-mails for 61 days over a period of 14 months, but also recruited other spammers from all over the world to help him with the task.

Final decision on the case will be delivered by Justice Andrew Greenwood next Tuesday.