Calif. Enacts Toughest Anti-Spam Bill

[newyawker99]

California will prohibit Internet advertisers from sending unsolicited e-mails under the toughest law of its kind in the nation, providing for fines up to $1 million.

Gov. Gray Davis signed legislation Tuesday that targets not only the firms that package and send spam to consumers, but also the companies whose products and services are being advertised.

The measure covers all unsolicited commercial e-mail sent or received in California and imposes fines of up to $1 million per incident.

"There are no loopholes, no way of getting around it," said the bill's author, state Sen. Kevin Murray, a Democrat.


spam

[7th_Sephiroth]

1. Fact:

Microsoft, when you get like an @hotmail.com address will send you spam once a month wether you like it or not, you cannot stop the e-mails, so someone in cali reading this, get an @hotmail.com address and sue microsoft please.

[denverbill]

2. It's very like you've forfeited your protection.

I'm bettin dollars to donuts that in the fine print, when you sign up for a free hotmail account, you are forced to allow Microsoft to spam you. Small price to pay for free email, imo. Microsoft doesn't spam me at my non-hotmail address.

[denverbill]

3. I would say it won't be long before the Feds act on this.

The 'states rights' Republicans will undoubtedly preempt this state law with a federal law that is much more lax. Bet on it.

[dfong63]

4. so what's to stop the feds from nullifying this, just like they did to

... CA's medical marijuana law?

don't get me wrong here, i'm in favor of anti-spam legislation. but my gut feeling is that this is on shaky legal ground.

i also suspect there are probably ways around it, despite what Kevin Murray said. has anyone got a link to more specific details about what the new law forbids and allows?