As usual, government attempts to “help” have come to naught.

MX Logic looked at a random sample of over 1,000 unsolicited commercial emails during the course of a seven day period beginning New Year’s Day and found only three of the messages complied with the CAN-SPAM Act.

“Calling this a high rate of non-compliance would be a gross understatement,” said Scott Chasin, MX Logic’s chief technology officer. “It is no surprise that rogue spammers would fail to comply, but the non-compliant messages we saw appeared to be from all types of companies.”

Actually, I saw that this law would not help.  In fact, given the way it’s written, we would all be guaranteed to get more SPAM.  As an example, I’ve already received one SPAM that alleges that it’s just a “Crazy State Law” of the week list and that it’s not a commercial email, but that while they’re sending me the email I should know about their wonderful offer to “Email Advertise Your Web Site to 1,850,000 0PT-IN Email Addresse= s for FREE!” (fulltext in the extended entry if you’re morbidly curious).  Of course, I don’t give a damn about protestations of being noncommercial.  I reported the bastard via Spamcop.  I hope he got spanked appropriately.

Given the economic realities of SPAM, stopping it isn’t going to be handled by the law, especially when most of the spammers are operating outside the US.  It’s something that will require technical and human intervention (like perhaps hanging a few of them from lightposts as examples for others).

Link via Slashdot.

From: “Brian Durham” <782iybjm@everyone.net>
Reply-To: “Brian Durham” <782iybjm@everyone.net>
To: <one of my many email addresses>
Subject: State Laws that you wont believe
Date: Wed, 07 Jan 04 09:36:44 GMT
X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2600.0000

“It is illegal to put tomatoes = in clam chowder” – In Massachusetts
The Primary Purpose of this Email is to Deliver You a “C= razy USA State Law of the Week” – The Secondary Purpose of this Email is t= o Let You Know:

Clic= k Here to Email Advertise Your Web Site to 1,850,000 0PT-IN Email Addresse= s for FREE!

If You Meet the Criteria of Being A Non-Prof= it Organization That Helps People Defend Themselves From Unfair State Laws= .
Once at Our Web Site, Mail Us With Your Non-Profit Organization Informatio= n & We Will Provide Details on How to Receive Your Emailing.

Leave From Our “Crazy USA State Law of the Week” Ema= il List

DISCLAIMER: This is Not a Commercial Email Message and i= s Exempt From Guidelines Outlined in US Code S.877
The Primary Purpose of this Email is Not a Commercial Advertisement or Pro= motion of a Commercial Product or Service.
The Secondary Purpose of this Email is a Non-Commercial Offer for Non-Prof= it Organizations That Defend People From Unfair State Laws