CAN-SPAM
CAN-SPAM stands for "Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing."
It's a U.S. law passed in 2003 that establishes the rules for commercial email and commercial messages. It gives recipients the right to have a business stop emailing them and outlines the penalties incurred for those who violate the law. For example, CAN-SPAM is the reason businesses are required to have an "unsubscribe" option at the bottom of every email.
CAN-SPAM doesn’t just apply to bulk email; it applies to all commercial messages. According to the FTC website, here are the main requirements:
- Don’t use false or misleading header information
- Don’t use deceptive subject lines
- Identify the message as an ad
- Tell recipients where you’re located
- Tell recipients how to opt-out of future email messages
- Honor opt-out requests promptly
- Monitor what others are doing on your behalf
Each separate email in violation is subject to penalties of up to $43,792.
Last updated: 2021/08/04