IS SPAM ETHICAL? ETHICAL REFECTIONS ON THE PROBLEM OF SPAM... Sudharsan Chandrashekaran

Introduction Difficulties caused by spam Arguments of its defenders Defending spam Ethical issues and implications Legal status of spam

Whats wrong with spam? Ride for Free Receiver pays more than the sender Oceans of spam problem Its all garbage Theyre all felons Most of them are illegal

Products advertised Source:AT&T Researcher Lorrie Faith and Microsoft Corporations Brian A. LaMacchia (1998) analyzed 400 pieces of classified as spam sent to an AT&T domain during the months of March, April, and May 1997

Defenders Arguments Inexpensive way to compete big business on the Internet Commercial free speech Spam does not mean that it is unwanted Dont place ones address publicly accessible Spam – not different from junk mails

Defending Spam Technological tools like filters are available to block spam The more aggressive they are, the more legitimate mail gets discarded in the process!

Ethical issues Wasting time without allowing the opportunity to avoid that waste Legitimate mail gets lost Biggest cost – consumption of computer resources Hand outs on the streets are acceptable but barging in my front door uninvited is inexcusable Do not have right to force it on someone

Legal Status Protection of privacy Prevent revelation of personal information Keep others from invading personal space In Israel, spam is regulated by the Protection of Privacy Act Easy to evade these laws In Feb. 99, State of Virginia became the first to adopt legislation that deems spam a criminal act

Conclusion Spam – a troubling public policy issue There should be some certain norms of advertising and promotional mailings Users should be willing to receive and absorb their costs