Bush Signs First National Anti-Spam Bill Into Law

DallasStar · Dec 16, 2003, 10:29 PM

Bush signs first anti-spam bill
Tue 16 December, 2003 19:50

By Andy Sullivan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush has signed the first national anti-spam bill into law, outlawing some of the most annoying forms of junk e-mail and setting jail time and multimillion dollar fines for violators.

The law also lays the groundwork for a "Do Not Spam" registry similar to the "Do Not Call" anti-telemarketing list that went into effect earlier this year.

Bush's signing marks the final legislative step in a six-year struggle to curb the unsolicited commercial offers that threaten to overwhelm the e-mail system.

But the law is unlikely to provide much of a Christmas present, at least this year.

Experts say it will not immediately stop the torrent of unwelcome e-mails touting unbelievably low mortgage rates, get-rich-quick schemes and sexual enhancement offers that now account for more than half of all e-mail traffic.

Skeptics say it will only encourage businesses to send out more unwanted e-mail, as the new law allows marketers to send messages to anyone with an e-mail address as long as they identify themselves clearly and honour consumer requests to leave them alone.

Supporters say the law sets a helpful framework for acceptable e-mail practices, but acknowledge it will need to be enforced aggressively to have any impact.

"This will help address the problems associated with the rapid growth and abuse of spam by establishing a framework of technological, administrative, civil and criminal tools and by providing consumers with the options to reduce unwanted e-mail," said White House spokesman Scott McClellan.

The new law requires pornographic e-mail to be clearly labelled, and commercial "text messages" to cell phones will be prohibited unless users expressly permit them.

It encourages but does not require the Federal Trade Commission to allow Internet users who don't want to receive any unsolicited marketing to place their e-mail addresses on a list that marketers would be required to check. FTC officials have said on several occasions that a do-not-spam registry would be difficult to enforce.

The law will override some tougher state laws, such as one in California that would prevent all unsolicited commercial e-mail, and will prohibit consumer lawsuits.

Read More

Madgoat1979 · Dec 17, 2003, 06:45 AM

ok thats nice for e-mails...

But what about pop-ups??

Shouldnt that be illegal too?

I mean we have advertizment on sites and such, should that be enough??

I simply WILL NOT click on anything that pops up on my screen simply for the fact that it "poped-up"... It pisses me off. If im on a site and it has adverts all over it, no prob... I will click on em, not only because I am visiting that site under my own control, but also I am using that site as a resource... and that is how they get paid.... So I will gladly look into an ad on a site for the simple fact that I should contribute to the wealth of that site for giving me the info I was looking for....

As for pop-ups... Where does that click go? Who gets paid for that? Its invasion if you ask me... I didnt give it the right to be there...

MG

Falstaff · Dec 17, 2003, 06:54 AM

I believe this was a long time in the making and a long time coming. If we are to rest control from those that would fill our inboxes with absolute crap, we must control it. But that control might be the domain of those that would watch, scrutinize and exercise control over the private user. Is this such a good thing?

mkk · Dec 18, 2003, 05:30 AM

So spam is now fully legalised. Wohoo...

Dec 16, 2003, 10:29 PM	#1
DallasStar Junior Join Date: May 2002 Location: Wave Existence Posts: 2,065 Rep Power: 0	Bush Signs First National Anti-Spam Bill Into Law Bush signs first anti-spam bill Tue 16 December, 2003 19:50 By Andy Sullivan WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush has signed the first national anti-spam bill into law, outlawing some of the most annoying forms of junk e-mail and setting jail time and multimillion dollar fines for violators. The law also lays the groundwork for a "Do Not Spam" registry similar to the "Do Not Call" anti-telemarketing list that went into effect earlier this year. Bush's signing marks the final legislative step in a six-year struggle to curb the unsolicited commercial offers that threaten to overwhelm the e-mail system. But the law is unlikely to provide much of a Christmas present, at least this year. Experts say it will not immediately stop the torrent of unwelcome e-mails touting unbelievably low mortgage rates, get-rich-quick schemes and sexual enhancement offers that now account for more than half of all e-mail traffic. Skeptics say it will only encourage businesses to send out more unwanted e-mail, as the new law allows marketers to send messages to anyone with an e-mail address as long as they identify themselves clearly and honour consumer requests to leave them alone. Supporters say the law sets a helpful framework for acceptable e-mail practices, but acknowledge it will need to be enforced aggressively to have any impact. "This will help address the problems associated with the rapid growth and abuse of spam by establishing a framework of technological, administrative, civil and criminal tools and by providing consumers with the options to reduce unwanted e-mail," said White House spokesman Scott McClellan. The new law requires pornographic e-mail to be clearly labelled, and commercial "text messages" to cell phones will be prohibited unless users expressly permit them. It encourages but does not require the Federal Trade Commission to allow Internet users who don't want to receive any unsolicited marketing to place their e-mail addresses on a list that marketers would be required to check. FTC officials have said on several occasions that a do-not-spam registry would be difficult to enforce. The law will override some tougher state laws, such as one in California that would prevent all unsolicited commercial e-mail, and will prohibit consumer lawsuits. Read More

Dec 17, 2003, 06:45 AM	#2
Madgoat1979 VTX NuTz!!! Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: AZ Posts: 763 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	ok thats nice for e-mails... But what about pop-ups?? Shouldnt that be illegal too? I mean we have advertizment on sites and such, should that be enough?? I simply WILL NOT click on anything that pops up on my screen simply for the fact that it "poped-up"... It pisses me off. If im on a site and it has adverts all over it, no prob... I will click on em, not only because I am visiting that site under my own control, but also I am using that site as a resource... and that is how they get paid.... So I will gladly look into an ad on a site for the simple fact that I should contribute to the wealth of that site for giving me the info I was looking for.... As for pop-ups... Where does that click go? Who gets paid for that? Its invasion if you ask me... I didnt give it the right to be there... MG __________________

Dec 17, 2003, 06:54 AM	#3
Falstaff Old Codger Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: USAFA Posts: 19,048 Rep Power: 207	a stepin the right direction I believe this was a long time in the making and a long time coming. If we are to rest control from those that would fill our inboxes with absolute crap, we must control it. But that control might be the domain of those that would watch, scrutinize and exercise control over the private user. Is this such a good thing? __________________ "Inspiration is always a surprising visitor."

Dec 18, 2003, 05:30 AM	#4
mkk Cthulhu/Dagon 2012 Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Gefle, Sweden Posts: 4,494 Rep Power: 132 System Specs	So spam is now fully legalised. Wohoo...