SPAM LAW 2004

Simplified HOME | CONTACT

Comprehensive guide to the best sites on the net!

Fine Photographic prints by Richard Brill Best Trade Show List! TCF.NET EDITORS PICK

The Brill Report Richard Brill Publisher and Editor in Chief

Richard Brill Thursday, December 18, 2003

No Spam Law, Signed by President Bush, Goes into Effect Jan 1, 2004

A step in the right direction, but unfortunately a far cry from a solution.

Senate Bill 877, dubbed the Can Spam Act (Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act). This new law goes after large spammers with tough consequences for sending unwanted and offensive e-mails.

Basically the new law states:

ü Spammers can’t use false headers (fake e-mail ADDRESSES or IP address)

ü Must have a Legitimate Physical Address.

ü Must have a valid Return address

ü Valid Subject Line indicating the message is an advertisement.

ü sexually oriented material must be stated as such

ü valid method for consumers to get off bulk lists “Opt-out mechanism”

Companies can still send you mail even if you don't want it!

The law doesn’t really stop spam. It just requires spammers to make their presence better known. After spam is sent, the person who received has the right to request that no more spam be sent. Unfortunately, much of the spam we receive is sent from out of the country. Also, an opt-out mechanism verifies that your e-mail account is working. Many spammers will use it to verify your e-mail address and add your name to another spam list. Spam lists are often generated and implemented through artificial intelligence without any human intervention. The loopholes in the law are obvious and the rewards for spamming are far too great for spamers to go cold turkey. I personally doubt this new law will take a large bite out of spam.

Most importantly, children should be protected from adult content.

Adult content should be on an adult Internet separate from a general-content Internet.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will enforce the new law. One measure it may add will be a “do not spam” list, similar to the “do not call” list used to discourage telemarketers.

TCF.NET EDITORS PICK

The contents of all photos, graphics, and text are protected by copyright and may not be used or reproduced without prior express written authorization from the publisher.