Spam-fighting proposals get stricter

WASHINGTON, June 17 (UPI) -- A bipartisan group of legislators is working on tougher legislation to battle e-mail spam, the Washington Post reported Tuesday.

The moves come amid intensified lobbying and political maneuvering over the issue. With outrage over spam at fever pitch, Congress is widely expected to pass the first national anti-spam law this year.

The new bill, by Reps. Heather Wilson, R-N.M., and Gene Green, D-Texas, contains broader enforcement powers for federal and state authorities, tighter restrictions on marketers and an anti-pornography provision.

"This is a business that is always looking for the next loophole," Wilson said. "We take out a lot of the loopholes."

Whereas other legislation focuses on spammers that use deception and peddle scams and pornography, Wilson said her bill recognizes that any unwanted commercial e-mail is spam.

So far, key Internet industry groups have not thrown their weight behind any individual bill.