4/30/03-Gov. Mark Warner signed legislation into law April 29 intended to crack down on unwanted junk e-mail, or “spam,” through stiffer penalties. The governor calls it the toughest of its kind in the nation.
Although more than half the states have anti-spam laws, no other allows prosecutors to go after assets earned from spamming. The new statute (HB2290/SB1139) also makes spamming a felony punishable up to five years in prison.
The new law also prohibits tools that allow companies or groups that send out bulk unsolicited e-mails to hide their identity.