Maryland lawmakers have approved a measure seen as one of the country’s strongest most far-reaching bills to prevent junk e-mail, according to the Baltimore Sun.

“What is does is crack down on fraudulent and deceptive practices that kingpin spammers use that are designed to defeat attempts by Internet service providers that block spam from coming in,” said state delegate Neil Quinter.

Quinter’s bill and an identical Senate bill would, if signed by Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., allow outlaw spammers to be sentenced to terms of up to 10 years in prison. It also calls for fines up to $25,000, and allows personal assets of spammers to be confiscated.

The Maryland bill would also make it illegal for people who send unsolicited e-mail to disguise their identities by using false return addresses or misleading subject lines. It would further prohibit spammers from harvesting addresses from Web sites.

Gregg Massoni, Ehrlich’s press secretary, said the governor will decide whether to sign it after his policy advisers and the state attorney general’s office determine whether there are any legal problems with the legislation.

Maryland lawmakers have approved a measure seen as one of the country’s strongest most far-reaching bills to prevent junk e-mail, according to the Baltimore Sun.

“What is does is crack down on fraudulent and deceptive practices that kingpin spammers use that are designed to defeat attempts by Internet service providers that block spam from coming in,” said state delegate Neil Quinter.

Quinter’s bill and an identical Senate bill would, if signed by Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., allow outlaw spammers to be sentenced to terms of up to 10 years in prison. It also calls for fines up to $25,000, and allows personal assets of spammers to be confiscated.

The Maryland bill would also make it illegal for people who send unsolicited e-mail to disguise their identities by using false return addresses or misleading subject lines. It would further prohibit spammers from harvesting addresses from Web sites.

Gregg Massoni, Ehrlich’s press secretary, said the governor will decide whether to sign it after his policy advisers and the state attorney general’s office determine whether there are any legal problems with the legislation.