Is Spam a privacy invasion? Is it illegal?

When doing some online research this morning, I came across a year old forum on dslreports.com addressing debate as to whether spam is illegal and considered to be an invasion of privacy.  As expected, there were comments tackling both sides of legalities and from reading the comments, it appears that people in general have their own set of rules for ‘invasion of privacy’.  A particular post that caught my attention was one from GroovyPhoenx and reads in his own words as follows:

 I’d disagree with it (spam) not being an invasion of privacy.

1) I did not provide my email for them to come knocking at my “internet door” Just because there is a door there isn’t an open invitation for anyone to knock. I don’t let strangers into my home and I hang a very solid sign “No Soliciting” on my home door, let me tell you when a Door to Door person ignores it, my only reply is, “I’d never buy from someone who cannot read. Unfortunately we are not provide with a “no soliciting” option on emails.

2) Solicitors of emails would probably ignore these as they have no morals of compunction to follow rules, they ABUSE not use the internet through either illegal or at least immoral means to disturb and disrupt MY life, sure, it’s a small inconvenience etc. but why should I HAVE to read and BE inconvenienced in the first place? I’m rude to solicitors and rude to spammers, unfortunately there are also phone spammers who pull the same type of crap and hide behind the masking of telephone numbers etc.

3) Spam mail is unwanted by most, unneeded by most and abhorred by most. SPAM (Self Propagating Annoying Mails) come to my email, the only big problem with these is that I am stuck because when someone SPAMS they have found a way to hide behind a re-mailer, or other such programs (or use bots etc as mentioned) the cost? I’m annoyed, I DO pay for it with elevated internet costs and the bad guys are left to do as they please because no one wants or cares to do anything concrete to stop these idiots from abusing the network.

So, illegal? No but it should be. Invasion of privacy? You darn right it is, no ifs, ands or buts: you invade MY computer with your spam and it is taking up my time (even the 10 minutes I take to configure an anti-spam is 10 minutes too much IMHO!)

My response to Mr. Groovy is RIGHT ON!!!…and hats off to you for putting it into well-written words how most of us feel about the intrusion of SPAM on our time, our money and our servers.  With a name like GroovyPhoenx, it has to be good!  What are your thoughts on the subject?