UK passes anti-spam law

UK bans spam messages. "Under the new law, spammers could be fined £5,000 in a magistrates court or an unlimited penalty from a jury," but not land in jail. The law goes into effect December 11, but does not cover business e-mail addresses.

Critics charge that Anti-spam laws 'lack bite'

Unwanted communication from outside the UK is not covered, and it only targets private e-mail addresses and not business to business e-mails.

But the government has not defined the difference between business and personal addresses, which could give spammers a defence if they do end up in court, say campaigners.