Consumers would gain more power to keep junk e-mail out of their inboxes under legislation approved by a U.S. Senate committee today. The bill, passed by the Senate Commerce Committee, requires that unsolicited e-mail, or "spam," contain valid return addresses that . . .
Consumers would gain more power to keep junk e-mail out of their inboxes under legislation approved by a U.S. Senate committee today. The bill, passed by the Senate Commerce Committee, requires that unsolicited e-mail, or "spam," contain valid return addresses that recipients can use to opt out of receiving more unwanted e-mail.

The "CAN SPAM" act, sponsored by Sens. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Ted Stevens, (R-Alaska), would impose fines and jail terms against spammers who fake their e-mail or physical addresses.

The legislation also would allow state attorneys general to sue on behalf of residents who are continually besieged by unwanted spam. Spammers who willfully violate the provisions of the law could be fined as much as $1.5 million.

"My bill strangles out spam e-mail by imposing steep fines and empowering consumers with the choice to close their doors to hyper-marketing once and for all," Burns said in a statement.

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