Bill Would Ban Spam E-Mail in California

The unwanted, sometimes lurid advertisements unleashed on computer users — e-mail spam — would be banned under a new bill in the Legislature. The bill would make it a crime to send unsolicited commercial e-mails from California or to an e-mail address in the state. People who received such spam — “Miniature Remote Control Car — Great Gift!” or “Lose 32 Pounds by Easter” — could sue for at least $500 per violation. “Spam isn’t just annoying,” said Sen. Debra Bowen (D-Marina del Rey), the bill’s author. “It burns people’s time and money by forcing them to wade through millions of messages that cost spammers virtually nothing to package and fire off.” But office workers weary of drumming the computer delete button each morning should not assume that Bowen’s bill will halt junk e-mail, experts say. Full Story