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U.S. Spam Law to Take Effect Jan. 1

Posted by michael on from the 2004-becomes-year-of-the-spam dept.

We lead with news that the U.S. 'anti'-spam law, written largely by the Direct Marketing Association, will enter into effect on January 1. The bill preempts existing state laws which are tougher (states' rights anyone?), so for many citizens, this is purely a pro-spam law. The FTC is thinking about bounty hunters to enforce the new law (which you can and probably should read for yourself).

2 of 573 comments (clear)

  1. More on bounties by wmspringer · · Score: 5, Informative

    For those looking, the section on bounties is on page 19 of the pdf file: Improving Enforcement by Providing Rewards etc

    It basically says that within 9 months of the enactment of the act, the commission is to set forth a system for rewarding those who supply information about violators; the first person who supplies the required information is to recieve a reward of not less than 20% of the total civil penalty collected.

    I only scanned the file and I'm not sure how large the fines are expect to be; it does say that all property traceable to illegal spamming proceeds and all equipment used for such is forfiet.

    --
    Twenties Retirement
  2. CAUCE's response by dmuth · · Score: 4, Informative

    CAUCE's response to the law can be read here.

    A copy of the final version of the law can be found here.

    According to CAUCE, the law was passed without any public hearings. What a shame.