WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 (UPI) -- Utah and Michigan state lawmakers are pushing legislation to create a do-not-spam registry to protect children from inappropriate e-mail and text messages.
The Utah and Michigan bills are similar. Legislative staffers from each state consulted with many of the same legal specialists, as well as one another, the Washington Times reported Tuesday.
The lists, similar to the popular national do-not-call registry designed to fend off telemarketers, would allow the states and individuals to pursue legal action against anyone who digitally sends certain materials to children whose contact information is on the list.
Any e-mail address, cell-phone number or instant messenger screen name accessible by children would be eligible for the registries.
Anyone who sends advertisements to the addresses for products that a minor cannot legally buy, such as cigarettes, alcohol or gambling products, would be in violation.
Pornography or other material that violates state obscenity or indecency laws also would apply.
The Federal Trade Commission is working to develop a federal do-not-e-mail list, though it is not clear whether the agency would be able to implement it.
