The US House of Representatives has voted 427-1 to pass new
legislation which is intended to reduce incidences of junk e-mail
being sent to consumers. The move has been welcomed by ISPs,
legitimate on-line advertisers and e-mail users who hope that it
will reduce costs of downloading junk e-mail.
Under the new provisions, it will only be possible for a
business to send unsolicited e-mails if it provides a valid e-mail
address giving recipients the opportunity to be removed from any
further mailing lists.
Businesses that breach those regulations may be liable to a fine
of $500 per e-mail up to a maximum of $50,000.
Rep. Heather Wilson, one of the main sponsors of the bill,
stressed the importance of controlling junk e-mails when she said
“this bill will allow parents and consumers the power to say enough
is enough and close their inbox to annoying and obscene junk
e-mail”.
