Abstract: A message (such as email) processing system and method functions to process incoming messages. The message processing system has: a message receiver (16) that receives a message (14); an identifying component (18) that determines a sending or receiving user identity from the message; a content categoriser (20) component that determines a content category of the message; and a message delivery action component (26) that takes a delivery action based on the user identity and content category Delivery actions may include forwarding the message, permanently withholding the message, temporarily holding the message until a predetermined delivery time or time window and diverting the message to a predetermined forwarding address. The message delivery action component (26) may use a database (30) of policies that associate the user identity with a delivery rule applicable to a predetermined content category, to take the delivery action.