Keith Moore <moore@cs.utk.edu> writes: > it's much more difficult to filter spam in general. one person's spam > might be another person's life-changing investment opportunity... I understand the "free speech!" attitude and such, but unfortunately it isn't reasonable. They're making me pay for their free speech. I've also heard the "how could we possibly define spam!?" concept before, but it is fairly easy to define the concept legally. See, for example, the TCPA, which very nicely defines its terms for telephone solicitation. Want some sample text? First we define in the act an "electronic mail solicitation" as a "initiation of a message by electronic mail, instant messaging, or similar means for the purpose of encouraging the purchase or rental of, or investment in, property, goods, or services, which is transmitted to any person, but such term does not include a call or message (A) to any person with that person's prior express invitation or permission, (B) to any person with whom the caller has an established business or personal relationship." We then define an "automated electronic mailing list system" as a "device that has the capacity to store or generate lists of ten or more electronic mail addresses and to transmit a substantially similar electronic mail message to each of said addresses." Then we define an "automated electronic mail solicitation" as an "electronic mail solicitation by means of an automated electronic mailing list system" and we ban it, and allow people to sue for $1000 a pop for when people violate it in addition, a la the TCPA. Might there be flaws in the language? Sure but they could be doctored a bit. Will this stop someone from emailing a person they met at IETF about cattle futures? No. Will it stop someone from automatically emailing everyone who attended IETF soliciting their investment in cattle futures? Yes. Is this the right approach? You can argue about that. On the other hand, it is silly to pretend it can't be done. Of course the law could be drafted. It could even be drafted in such a way as to avoid impacting almost any of what we think of as "legitimate" commerce. Perry