Spam reduces faith in email

The growing problem of spam is taking a heavy toll on US internet users' perception of the safety of email.

According to a survey by cyber-monitoring group Pew Internet and American Life Project, 63 per cent of users are becoming less trusting of emails, while over a third claim to have cut back their use of email as a communication tool.

The majority of those surveyed indicated that the volume of junk mail has increased this year. This is despite the ratification of recent US Can Spam legislation, which became law on 1 January.

The findings appear to be backed up by a recent review from anti-spam and security company Brightmail, which found that spam accounted for 62 per cent of all email sent last month.

According to Pew Internet, the apparent failure of the US legislation and the rise in spam is causing increasing discomfort to internet users.

Three-quarters found spam unpleasant and annoying, while 86 per cent said that unsolicited email caused them distress.

The survey gives credence to concerns voiced by critics of the Can Spam Act who have suggested that, while the penalties are strong, the law's weakness is that it attempts to regulate rather than ban the practice of spamming.

It does this by requiring email marketers to include legitimate return addresses and opt-out information in all the unsolicited messages they send.