Anti-Spam Legislation Setbacks
Information Today, Vol. 25, No. 11, p. 17, December 2008
3 Pages Posted: 26 Jun 2010
Date Written: December 2008
Abstract
Current estimates are that 90% of all e-mail traffic is unsolicited bulk e-mail, or spam. Another report suggests that spam costs U.S. businesses up to $17 billion in lost productivity and anti-spam efforts, notwithstanding the widespread use of spam filters. The law’s response to the proliferation of spam has been checkered. As the problems of spam shifted from its origins in the USENET environment in the 1980's and early 90's, to the e-mail environment by the late 1990's, courts and legislatures struggled to craft a response. Unfortunately, that struggle continues on today.
Keywords: spam, unsolicited e-mail, bulk e-mail, electronic mail, CAN-SPAM Act, lawsuits, anti-spam legislation, anonymous speech, First Amendment, commercial free speech
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