MySpace's big spam win: Will it really be a deterrent?

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Not the crappy service's fault!

Until we as a society embrace strong identification -- e.g. digital certificates which can reliably be traced back to an individual, we'll never see the end of spammers, and there's not a lot that services -- crappy or otherwise -- can do about it.

But when spamming has real consequences that include losing one's ability to use the internet -- not just for nefarious purposes, but, say, to do one's banking, pay one's rent, buy groceries -- when the spammers find themselves excluded from digital society, to where not only can't they get their spam accepted anywhere, they can't even get their MONEY accepted ---

well, when that day comes (if it comes), we'll see an end to this sort of behavior, and a rise in personal accountability in general.

Now, I'm of two minds about whether (or how far) we SHOULD go that route. I'm not sure my ideal world would have no place for anonymity!

But in 35 years of observation of online behavior, I have seen very little good come out of anonymity, compared to the great harm.

Everyone from schoolyard bullies to faceless bureaucrats hide behind the knowledge that they won't have to take responsibility for their actions.

On the other hand, I shouldn't have to be responsible to, say, Proctor and Gamble for my choice of laundry detergent! Or to some bible thumper for whether I choose to include a few gays in my circle of friends. Or to the FBI because I know some people from Iraq!

But maybe if my identity would reveal that I'm the same person posting unhinged rants about the evils of the FBI, and buying large quantities of fertilizer and fuel oil -- that would be a good thing for society. Maybe me, too, depending on my plans!

But I'm afraid we can't pin the responsibility on any one site here. I think we, society, have to come to grips with what measures are really needed to stop this sort of thing, and whether we can handle the consequences and responsibilities that would go with that decision.

As for when users get paid their part? When users can set their own rules for accepting mail, including pay-to-play for advertisers, with recourse for misrepresentation.

(It would be an ironic world indeed, when we have advertising-supported PEOPLE, not just web sites!)

Posted by: bob.kerns2   Posted on: 05/17/08 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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