Colorado Drafted Harsher Anti-Spam Law

Bill Ritter, Governor of Colorado, formally approved a bill on April 23, 2008 declaring e-mail spam a crime under the law of the state. Supporters of the bill called it a triumph over the battle against UCE (unwanted commercial e-mail), as reported by BUSINESS JOURNAL on April 23, 2008. The move represents the increasing initiative by authorities in the US to tackle the urgent issue relating to spam.

The bill named, "Spam Reduction Act of 2008", will substitute the old state law(s) against UCE by declaring rules that regard breach of the federal CAN-SPAM Act of 2003, a criminal act under the purview of state law.

According to the law, sending UCE to any Colorado resident will be regarded as a crime of misconduct. In addition, it would allow a spam recipient to claim damages if he can prove his financial losses and identify the spammer. This recovery can be claimed for up to $10 Million in the civil court.

Governor Ritter said that spam constituted about 90% of the total e-mail due to which US consumers and businesses incur huge annual costs amounting to several million dollars in productivity damage and software for virus protection, as reported by ALL AMERICAN PATRIOTS on April 23, 2008. Ritter said that the junk e-mail and spam caused issues even beyond inconveniences. They caused breakdown of servers, aided in propagating viruses and facilitated fraudulent e-mails for committing identity theft.

Co-Sponsor of the bill Rep. Sara Gagliardi, said that a war to combat spam was declared four months back in December 2007. That mission now appeared accomplished, as reported by ALL AMERICAN PATRIOTS on April 23, 2008.

The law, which is scheduled for enforcement on August 8, is devised to strengthen the ability of authorities in foiling spammers' activities.

Rep. Morgan Carroll, D-Aurora, the bill's Chief Sponsor, said in the House that Colorado citizens and companies spend a lot of energy, time and money filtering absurd claims of hugely amounting paydays, advertisements for E.D. drugs, and many other schemes only to be left with relevant e-mails. Carroll said that this would not be tolerated, as reported by BUSINESS JOURNAL in the first week of April 2008.

Related article: Colorado to Pass anti-spam Law to Root Out Junk E-mails

» SPAMfighter News - 4/30/2008