Can-Spam Act Not Yet Effective, Study Asserts

DENVER – Only one in six pornographic unsolicited emails complied with a new Federal Trade Commission rule regarding the labeling of pornographic spam, according to network security firm MX Logic.

The Denver-based company said that the FTC rule, which went into effect May 19, has been flouted.

The law requires all unsolicited email with sexually oriented content to bear the label "SEXUALLY-EXPLICIT" in the subject line.

"Fighting spam is an enormous challenge – one that requires a multi-pronged solution,” MX Logic spokesman Scott Chasin told XBiz. “In addition to enforceable anti-spam laws, winning the war on spam will require the continued deployment of robust email defense technology.”

Chasin also said it would take meaningful industry cooperation and the empowerment of users to stop spam and other email threats.

MX Logic scanned a sampling of 12,000 pornographic messages during the first seven days the FTC began requiring the label and found that only 15.3 percent of the porn spam was properly labeled.

The Can-Spam Act (Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing) requires that unsolicited commercial email senders ensure that the "from" line clearly reflects the sender's identity; that it includes a subject line text consistent with message content; that it includes the advertiser's valid postal address; and that it contains a working opt-out mechanism as a way for the consumer to decline to receive further commercial email from the sender.

Later this month, the FTC is expected to issue a report on the advisability of creating a "Do Not Email" registry, much like the existing "Do Not Call" registry for telemarketing.

Copyright © 2026 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

MyMember.site Rolls Out 'TantumPay' Solution

MyMember.site has debuted its TantumPay payment processing solution.

StreamPayments Joins ASACP as Corporate Sponsor

Payment service provider and consultancy firm StreamPayments has signed on as the latest corporate sponsor for Association of Sites Advocating Child Protection (ASACP).

AdultHTML Introduces Custom AI Projects Development Service

AdultHTML has introduced its customizable AI projects development service.

Eporner Must Face Copyright Suit After Judge Affirms Jurisdiction

A U.S. district court has ruled that it has jurisdiction to hear a copyright infringement lawsuit brought by adult website operators against tube site Eporner, even though Eporner is based outside the United States.

BranditScan Launches Public API, Affiliate Program

BranditScan has launched a public API and a new affiliate program enabling creator platforms to integrate the company’s anti-piracy services and earn recurring commissions.

Kenna James, Derek Kage Cap AEBN's Top Stars for 2nd Quarter of 2026

AEBN has revealed its most popular performers in straight and gay theaters for the second quarter of 2026.

Segpay Partners With Corey Silverstein for Legal Services

Segpay has partnered with adult industry attorney Corey D. Silverstein for specialized legal compliance and policy support for its merchant network.

AEBN Reveals Kasey Kei as Top Trans Star for Q2 of 2026

AEBN has named its top trans stars for the second quarter of 2026, with Kasey Kei landing atop the leaderboard.

Missouri Governor Signs Bill Making AV Regulations State Law

Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe signed a bill into law on Thursday requiring adult websites to age-verify users in the state, finalizing a legislative “stamp of approval” for AV rules after Missouri’s attorney general unilaterally imposed similar regulations last year.

Utherverse Launches 'Adult Game Fest' Virtual Convention

Virtual reality and metaverse technology company Utherverse is launching its inaugural Adult Game Fest convention and trade show, taking place Sept. 24-26.

Show More