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NYT on Spam Cops

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the game-is-on dept.

yet another coward writes "The New York Times reports on new measures against spam. (Sperm sample required, sorry ladies) Microsoft has increased efforts to track and prosecute spammers. Hotmail receives 2 billion (2 * 10^9) spam messages per day. In a twist of weirdness, the Direct Marketing Association is funding investigators who cooperate with the FBI on spam investigations. Spamhaus also gets a mention."

4 of 215 comments (clear)

  1. where have we heard this before? by berkleyidiot · · Score: 5, Insightful

    In a twist of weirdness, the Direct Marketing Association is funding investigators who cooperate with the FBI on spam investigations.

    sounds like phillip morris funding anti-smoking campaigns.

    1. Re:where have we heard this before? by jfengel · · Score: 4, Insightful

      It actually makes some sense. The DMA wants to be able to send you "legitimate" spam, marketing legal products. They hate being drowned out by Nigerian scam artists and people peddling bogus pills and illegal stock tips, not to mention porn ads sent to four year olds. They think it gives spam a bad name.

      Phillip Morris, on the other hand, is unwillingly paying off the results of a lawsuit.

      Personally, I'm perfectly happy to make spam safe, legal, and filterable. You send it, my server rejects it without my ever seeing it. The easier it is to filter, the better it is for me. If it comes from the DMA, and clearly so marked, I'm happy with that, and if the thieves' guild wants to punish unlicensed thieves, I'm thrilled.

  2. Re:Article text. Mod Down; Copyright Infringement by USAPatriot · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Regardless of whether this was posted for karma or to benefit other users here, it is still copyright infringement.

    This notice on their site makes clear what uses of their materials is acceptable. Reposting verbatim to other sites is definitely not.

    Moderators should not be encouraging this type of behavior by making them "insightful". Slashdot should respect other peoples copyrights, don't forget how evil violating the GPL is.

    --

    Slashdot Moderation: From positive to terrible in 2 "insightful" posts.

  3. NYT Jokes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Sperm sample required, sorry ladies

    This is kind of off topic, but does anyone else feel that the New York Times, "registration required," jokes are getting a little out of hand. I mean, the first time someone said, "soul sucking registration," it was pretty funny, but now it's just getting lame. I think it's gone the way of the step 1 step 2 step 3 profit jokes.

    No offence intended to whoever posted the article. I'm sure they were just joking around, but a lot of people read /., and that looks a bit unprofessional for the front page.