Not only that, the problem appears to be growing. Spam can overload and overwhelm even a dedicated e-mail advocate. The problem hasn't gone unnoticed, especially in the United States. The US Congress last year voted 427-1 to approve the Unsolicited Commercial Electronic Mail Act of 2000, which sought to bring spammers under regulatory control. The measure was bogged down in the Senate but is expected to be reintroduced this year.
Some commercial marketers defend bulk e-mail as a legitimate enterprise and a form of free speech.
Most legitimate companies send e-mail only to people who have expressed an interest and will remove customers from mailing lists if requested. Rollo believes legislation is needed, in both Australia and overseas. He says a big part of the problem is the cost effectiveness of sending spam. Out of a run of a million e-mails, only one recipient needs to be hooked for the tactic to have paid for itself. This makes spamming much cheaper than traditional paper-based marketing like stuffing letter boxes.