The anti-spam sites have long advocated for email recepients not to use the unsubscribe links in spam email. The key here is "spam" email. If you've legitimately provided your email address to an Ezine publisher or to some other site, then you should be able to use the links to get off their lists. I've generally supported the use of the unsubscribe links, mainly because of my support of Ezine publishers and how they've been abused in the past. However, this as changed as of today. My word of warning is to view these unsubscribe methods with a jaded eye. One of the most deceptive things I've seen to date hit me this morning. Want to know more?
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President Bushed signed the CAN-SPAM Act on December 16, 2003 and it is now law. Hopefully, this will reduce the number of emails that I get saying that it is sent in accordances with the proposed legislation by the House or the Senate or whatever organization decides to present some solution to the spamming problem. The Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act of 2003 (CAN-SPAM) is a good thing in my opinion. If a real law exists, then maybe the anti-spammers will need to start proving guilt versus the current need for folks to prove their innocence. The unfortunate thing about this law is that it doesn't take effect until January 1, 2004. I expect the volume of spam email to increase significantly over the next couple of weeks as the spammers attempt to get in our face as much as possible while they're "safe". Will it really have any affect? I do not believe it will, the hard-core spammers will continue to forge email headers and direct folks to websites that are located outside the United States. The ability to shut them down will depend on what resources are put behind this Act by the US. However, maybe this Act will keep vigilantes like Julian Haight of SpamCop from shutting down small US based businesses just because it adds to his count. The anti-spammers have been largely unsuccessful a shutting down the real spammers. The CAN-SPAM Act will not affect these criminals either.