The New York Times :: Antispam Bill Passes Senate by Voice Vote
By JENNIFER 8. LEE
..."I don't think you will see really a cutback in spam until someone is caught and prosecuted and they know for sure that we are serious about the enforcement of the law," said Senator Conrad Burns, Republican of Montana and a sponsor of the bill, known as the "Can-Spam" Act.
The bill allows the federal government, state attorneys general and Internet service providers to bring lawsuits against bulk e-mailers who use deceptive practices like false e-mail addresses and subject lines. Enforcement officials estimate that over 90 percent of junk bulk e-mail comes from slightly more than 200 spammers.
Individuals would not have the right to take action against people who violate the law, despite a last-minute attempt by Senator Jon Corzine, Democrat of New Jersey, to add a provision that would provide for bounty hunters.
The bill outlaws several common spamming techniques, like using e-mail addresses gathered from the Internet or generated by computers. Under the legislation, bulk e-mailers could face up to $250 in penalties for each deceptive e-mail, up to a $6 million maximum fine. Violators could also face up to five years in jail...
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