Harvesting: Probably Not a Great Idea
Why is harvesting a bad idea? -- BtoB has a blurb here [spam resource]:
The most sinister form of harvesting is done by computer programs that search public areas of the Internet to compile and capture lists of e-mail addresses from Web pages, newsgroups, chat rooms and elsewhere online. However, you also are engaging in address harvesting when you put a fishbowl in your trade show booth and then add all those addresses to your e-mail list . . . .If you harvest (which is not recommended) make sure your email does not contain false or misleading information. (The actual restrictions are a bit more extensive, but not much more.) What if you harvest, and turn over the emails to someone else who then sends messages?
Federal CAN-SPAM law imposes stiff penalties on spammers who use harvested lists. Federal law authorizes fines of $100 for every attempted transmission of a spam message containing false or misleading transmission information. Damages increase threefold per incident if a victim’s e-mail address was harvested from a public Web site.
I'm not sure harvesting is as bad as BtoB says. It's risky, but I can see how in some circumstances it may work. (There are a host of other issues and claims around this, such as the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, tresspass, violations of terms of service. CAN-SPAM should not necessarily be at the top of the list of things you are worrying about.)
Posted by Venkat at 6/14/2007 5:35 AM 
Categories: CAN-SPAM, Spam, ETIQUETTE, Business, Anti-Spammers
Categories: CAN-SPAM, Spam, ETIQUETTE, Business, Anti-Spammers
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