Recipients of Unwanted Junk Email Could Receive $500 Per Message
The California Senate inched closer to significantly tightening state laws targeting spammers Monday, when a Senate committee passed a bill that would fine e-mail marketers for each piece of unwanted commercial mail sent to consumers. The bill would prohibit e-mail marketers from sending unsolicited commercial e-mail to state residents. The bill would allow recipients of unwanted e-mail come-ons to received $500 per message. E-mail marketers found in violation under the law would also be required to contribute $250 per violation to California's High Technology Theft Apprehension and Prosecution Program Trust Fund. On Monday, the Business and Professions Committee passed the bill on a 5-1 vote, sending it on now to the Appropriations Committee for action in April. If it passes there, the bill would need to be voted on by the full Senate and Assembly, before going to Gov. Gray Davis for approval. The Senate and Assembly have a year to pass the legislation. In January, a Harris Interactive poll found nearly three quarters of respondents thought spam should be illegal. California is one of 29 states in the country that has at least initiated some kind of anti-spam legislation, according to SpamLaws.com. E-mail marketers have decried these state efforts, fearing the provisions in the state bills are unworkable and will unfairly paint legitimate e-mail marketers with the same brush used for spammers. [Full story: Calif. Spam Bill Passes Committee - InternetNews]
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