I neglected to include the URL to the article in my last message. Here it is: http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,44088,00.html Note that the bill does not apply to only businesses, but to nonprofits and individuals as well. Also, the same bill includes restrictions on online anonymity: A lot of deviltry is done in the name of fighting spam. The sad part is that it's unlikely Congress can accomplish anything, since an increasing amount of spam comes from overseas: http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,41860,00.html -Declan --- Date: Fri, 25 May 2001 08:26:01 -0700 From: lizard <lizardat_private> To: Declan McCullagh <declanat_private> Subject: Re: Anti-spam bill goes further, regulates sex email, anonymity References: <20010525100653.B24321at_private> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-UIDL: 1fe7cc95bca6c5d93c8a560a54187304 Declan McCullagh wrote: > WASHINGTON -- Spam touting preternaturally nubile lasses and dubious > penile enhancement techniques is, without question, clogging inboxes, > vexing companies and alarming parents. > > So nobody was surprised when the House Judiciary Committee > overwhelmingly approved a bill on Wednesday that backers say will > shield America's inboxes from the tacky carnality of spambots. > > Nobody, that is, except legitimate businesses that suddenly realized > sending even legitimate sex-related e-mail might soon be a federal > crime. > And while this undoubtedly surprises the liberals who believed government could do some good regulating commerce on the net (for a liberal never saw a business he didn't want drowned in red tape, in the name of the public good), it surprises the libertarians not at all. I have said it before, and I shall say it again:No New Laws! Simple enforcement of *existing* anti-fraud statutes will put 99% of all spammers out of business. The only reason people want new laws is that they wish to extend government control over the internet. 'Stop the spam' is the Internet equivalent of 'For the sake of the children' -- it's a magic code phrase that causes otherwise rational, suspiscious minds to shut down and embrace whatever idiocy is being offered. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- POLITECH -- Declan McCullagh's politics and technology mailing list You may redistribute this message freely if it remains intact. To subscribe, visit http://www.politechbot.com/info/subscribe.html This message is archived at http://www.politechbot.com/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------
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