Opting Out of Spam: A Domain Level Do-Not-Spam Registry

Abstract

Though everyone loves to hate spam, there is desirable spam that users read and even buy from. Because law uniquely changes the marginal cost of spamming, blanket measures to reduce spam are inefficient. Federal spam legislation is intentionally underinclusive to target only the worst kinds of spam, fraud and messages with confirmed negative utility. This law is the best tailored and enforced in the world. Further targeted laws such as domain-level (e.g. hotmail.com) Do-Not-Spam list or criminal prosecution for buying illegal products from spam (i.e. Viagra) would also help stop the worst kinds of spam.

Keywords: spam, email, CAN-SPAM, technology, telecommunications, Internet, Do-Not-Call

JEL Classification: K10, K23, K42