During a Senate Commerce Committee hearing Wednesday, Senators said spyware was a rising threat requiring swift congressional action, reports CNET - and ReveNews provides all the gory details. An anti-spyware bill last year died before a Senate floor vote. If a federal spyware measure passes this year, technology and advertising companies want to ensure that it preempts state laws and sets a uniform standard nationwide.
Most firms also want to ensure that the definition of spyware doesn't get so broad as to endanger innocuous tracking mechanisms, such as cookies - one of last year's major hang ups.
How much a federal law can accomplish is not certain.
The Can-Spam Act hasn't eliminated junk email, and both the FTC and the Justice Department say they already have the power to investigate and punish the worst offenders. Moreover, offshore websites are all but untouchable.
