2009.03.30
Spam slam canned
Well, the U.S. Supreme Court today declined to consider reinstating Virginia's anti-spam law, which the state Supreme Court had tossed as an unconstitutional infringement on First Amendment free speech rights. The 2003 law had made it a misdemeanor to use false transmission information, such as a phony domain name, to send out unsolicited bulk e-mail -- and a felony if the junk e-mail was sent to more than 10,000 recipients in 24 hours. Loudoun County mass e-mailer Jeremy Jaynes became the nation's first spam felon in 2004 and was sentenced to nine years in prison - providing his legions of unwilling e-mail recipients a cathartic victory, but a brief one. The Virginia Supreme Court's ruling overturned the conviction. A pity, but apparently legally sound.
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I mean spam is annoying but 9yrs prison?? I don't see this at all.
Comment by HCS — March 30, 2009 @ 4:15 pm
"made it a misdemeanor to use false transmission information"
Sounds illegal to me.
Comment by Henry — March 30, 2009 @ 4:48 pm
I didn't say it wasn't illegal. Even you have to admit 9yrs in prison is a bit much for spam.
Comment by HCS — March 30, 2009 @ 4:57 pm
I could never get too excited about spam...how difficult is it to just hit the "delete" button. People don't get 9 years for child molestation...how the heck does a bunch of stupid email make the cut for that level of punishment. Another waste of tax dollars and prison space.
Comment by Kristen — March 31, 2009 @ 7:34 am
9 years isn't a bit much for fraud at that level. Much of that spam links to malware sites. Spam costs companies and people a LOT of money.
Comment by Henry — March 31, 2009 @ 8:01 am
Well people are now well aware that spam exists...I for one have gotten so much I mean at one point (I have sense started blocking them so I don't get hardly any) was getting like 20/day. BUT I have NEVER, not once had any virus or any thing because as Kristen said...I simply hit delete. And as always, these folks who are doing nothing more than sending out irritating mail are filling already crowded prisons and using our tax dollars for 9 YEARS! As Kristen said there are violent offenders out there who don't get that kind of time...Henry, if someone sent you spam and someone else beat your child...would you feel justice was served if your spammer got 9yrs and your child's abuser got let's say 4?
Comment by HCS — March 31, 2009 @ 9:08 am