FTC Revamps CAN-SPAM Rules ... Yum!
The FTC on Monday approved four new rule provisions under the CAN-SPAM Act, a 2004 mandate that set requirements for those who send commercial e-mail and spelled out penalties for inbox outlaws. The changes are intended to clarify the statute's requirements in an age of sophisticated cyber-scams.
Four topics are addressed in the new rule provisions:
(1) An e-mail recipient cannot be required to pay a fee, provide information other than his or her e-mail address and opt-out preferences, or take any steps other than sending a reply e-mail message or visiting a single Internet Web page to opt out of receiving future e-mail from a sender.
(2) The definition of “sender” was modified to make it easier to determine which of multiple parties advertising in a single e-mail message is responsible for complying with the act’s opt-out requirements.
(3) A “sender” of commercial e-mail can include an accurately-registered post office box or private mailbox established under U.S. Postal Service regulations to satisfy the act’s requirement that a commercial e-mail display a “valid physical postal address.”
(4) A definition of the term “person” was added to clarify that CAN-SPAM’s obligations are not limited to natural persons.
In addition, the FTC's statement of basis and purpose accompanying the final rule addresses a number of topics that are not the subject of any new rule provisions. Click here to read the full press release with more details.
(Spam Photo Credit: Benny Yap via Flickr)
Categories:
FTC
Join the Discussion
The National Journal Group has the right (but not the obligation) to monitor the comments and to remove any materials it deems inappropriate.
Comments powered by Disqus