In 2003, the CAN-SPAM Act (Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act) was established to set requirements for those sending commercial emails, gives penalties for spammers and companies whose products are advertised as spam and violating the law. It gives the consumers the right to ask emailers to stop spamming them.

The law became effective on January 1, 2004 with the Federal Trade Commision which is the nation’s consumer protection agency as the one authorized to enforce this act. The Department of Justice (DOJ) also has the authority to enforce criminal sanctions on the spammers.