Big Internet providers sue to halt spammers

[wdlove]

America's four biggest Internet service providers have flung out a digital dragnet intended to snare some top senders of unwanted e-mail advertisements or "spam."

Time Warner Inc.'s America Online service (AOL), EarthLink Inc., Microsoft Corp., and Yahoo Inc. filed six civil lawsuits targeting hundreds of Internet spammers. Most of those cited are unidentified "John Does," because the Internet companies haven't yet identified the individuals or businesses doing the spamming. But several spammers are mentioned by name, including one based in Massachusetts and another in New Hampshire.

The lawsuits, filed in the companies' home states of Washington, Virginia, Georgia, and California, represent the first major attempt to enforce the CAN SPAM Act, a federal law intended to check the unbridled growth of deceptive and often pornographic e-mail advertisements.

Yesterday's actions signal a significant escalation in the pursuit of spammers. Microsoft deputy general counsel Nancy Anderson said the lawsuits are designed "to realize the power of the CAN SPAM act and put consumers back in control of their inboxes."

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/03/11/big_internet_providers_sue_to_halt_spammers/

 

[srobert]

100 thumbs up!

 

[gbojim]

I heard on the news this morning that 3 people in a town just a few km from me were sued by Yahoo as part of this effort. IIRC they are being sued for sending over 94M messages since the beginning of 2004.

 

[Opteron]

Good to see the clamp down is comming, however a global effoer is really needed.

Also browsers like Mozilla and it's e-mail equilivent have pretty good spam and popup blockers.

 

[wdlove]

Good to see the clamp down is comming, however a global effoer is really needed.

Also browsers like Mozilla and it's e-mail equilivent have pretty good spam and popup blockers.

The effort has to start somewhere, at least they are trying.

The Apple Mail program also has a great spam program according to reports.

 

[haiggy]

The ones sued by Yahoo! live in my city....

 

[srobert]

I wanna see pictures and names

>

 

[billyboy]

What is spam? I cant remember since getting a mac.com Mail account.

 

[wdlove]

What is spam? I cant remember since getting a mac.com Mail account.

Is that a rhetorical? Congratulations, my wife and I can't use our Mail program. After my wife visited our local Apple Store, we have isolated the problem to our Earthlink DSL. The Mail worked on her 15" PB at the Apple Store.