Mich., Utah to Launch E-Mail Registries
Associated Press
Jun 29, 2005 8:21 PM (ET)
By DAVID EGGERT
http://apnews.myway.com//article/20050630/D8B1JM5O0.html
LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Two states are on the verge of trying to block porn
and other inappropriate messages sent to children through e-mail, but
critics question how the laws will be enforced and predict they could have
unintended consequences.
Michigan and Utah have until Friday to create and operate registries of
e-mail addresses similar to "do-not-call" lists. Businesses will have to
buy copies of the registries and face prison time and fines if they send
e-mail to any addresses that parents submit. The registries also can
include instant-message addresses, cell phones and pager numbers.
Parry Aftab, an Internet safety expert with WiredSafety.org, said the laws
were well-intentioned but flawed.
"Anytime anyone starts collecting lists of children, it's subject to
hacking and misuse," Aftab said. "The last thing I want is anyone to have a
large database of children."
As with other Internet laws, critics say the registries probably won't have
much effect - largely because anti-spam laws have been difficult to
enforce. Spam often originates from outside the country and from other states.
The Institute for Spam and Internet Public Safety, which runs conferences
and other programs on e-mail marketing, is concerned that commercial
e-mailers don't know about the laws.
"We've talked with several top-tier e-mail marketing firms and e-mail
service providers and they were all just stunned to learn that they need to
start scrubbing their mailing lists against these registries next month or
face criminal sanctions," said Anne Mitchell, the group's president.
================================
George Antunes, Political Science Dept
University of Houston; Houston, TX 77204
Voice: 713-743-3923 Fax: 713-743-3927
antunes at uh dot edu
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