When rep. Heather Wilson (R-N.M.) introduced legislation in February to prevent or greatly reduce unsolicited commercial e-mail, commonly known as spam, privacy advocates cheered and then lent their support. But then some trade associations complained...

Some popular free Web services are playing both sides of the fence when it comes to protecting consumers from pesky marketers, offering to block junk e-mail while they help advertisers push promotions into customers' in-boxes. [CNET.com]

Last week, Reps. Heather Wilson (R-N.M.) and Gene Green (D-Texas) reintroduced a bill they claimed "empowers consumers and their ISP with the ability to protect both their privacy and their resources" by restricting unsolicited commercial e-mail. [Wired]

To date, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has only gone after spam in cases in which deceptive advertising was being prosecuted. Unsolicited commercial e-mail (UCE) itself, regardless of its contents, has not been a target. [E-Commerce News]

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UUNet customers have been left stranded without access to their email for the last 36 hours after the outfit took a "very big hit" from spammers earlier this week. [The Register]

Californians Michael Persaud, 24, of San Diego and Frank Kriticos, 25, of Santee will answer felony criminal charges of spamming and so earn the distinction of being the first people so charged in that state, according to a story in the local Union Tr...

Alan Brown makes a short response to the news that ORBS is shutting down.

A bill designed to give consumers and ISPs greater control over a flood of unwanted e-mail, commonly known as spam, was introduced Wednesday by the same U.S. representatives who sponsored the legislation in the last Congress. [CNN]

The British marketing industry has begun the fight back against European Union proposals to ban all unsolicited emails. [Guardian Unlimited]