FUDBusters: Regional AntiSpam Legislation Gets Its First Conviction

FUDBust: In a cooperative effort between law enforcement agencies and the courts, two North Carolina residents were convicted of violating Virginia's new antispam law. Even though the brother-and-sister spamming team were operating outside North Carolina, the court said, they were using an AOL server in Virginia--and therefore were subject to Virginia law. North Carolina police picked up the spammers and extradited them to Virginia, where the ringleader will spend nine years in jail.

The conviction won't stop spammers--not even close--but it does prove they can be nailed for using servers in regions with antispam laws. It also suggests there is some hope for U.S. antispam legislation, if U.S. agencies can get help from foreign governments in countries where spammers operate.