A Close Reading of the Spyware Control Act takes a careful look at the spyware legislation recently passed in Utah and now awaiting the governor’s signature. This legislation requires software that transmits users’ usage data (web sites visited, etc.) to provide appropriate disclosures in a license agreement (in plain language, actually presented to users, etc.), and to provide an uninstall routine.
Seems uncontroversial? That’s what I thought, but the bill has raised opposition from big .COM companies that seem to think the legislation is actually a bad idea — even as they are among the sites most intensively targeted by spyware pop-up ads. Have these companies missed the boat? Or have I? Check out the article — including their letter (PDF) and my paragraph-by-paragraph response — and decide for yourself.