Law People Act Messages Email Can Spam States Send

The CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 was the first law in the United States that "dealt with" (was related to) how businesses can send email. The full name of the "bill" (proposal for a new law) was Controlling the "Assault" (attack) of "Non-Solicited" (not requested) "Pornography" (images showing sex and designed to create interest in sex) and Marketing Act of 2003.

Unfortunately, the law has been "largely" (mostly) "ineffectual" (not successful, not able to get things done). Many people argue that the law was weak "to begin with" (from the beginning). For example, under the law, companies sending marketing messages via email do not have to get "permission" (agreement to do something) from the "recipients" (people who receive messages). The law also does not let people "sue" (take to court to demand money) people who send "spam" (unwanted email).

People also complain that the law has not been "enforced" (making people comply with the law). In 2004, less than 1% of spam messages were "in compliance with" (following the rules of) the law.

The law has had some successes. For example, it requires that all "mass" (sent to many people at the same time) email messages include an "opt-out mechanism" (a way to request that one's email address be removed from a distribution list) and that those opt-out requests are "honored" (obeyed; followed) within ten days. The law also states that the "from" line should accurately "indicate" (show) who the message is from and the "subject line" must be "relevant" (related to the subject of the message).