Spam-

E-mail messages that are sent to a number of people without their consent. Spam is also known as “Unsolicited Commercial E-mail” or junk e-mail. It is normally sent to promote a product or service. Spam can also be found in newsgroups and forums when users post information that is not relevant to the pertinent topic.

Spam is characterized by its large volume. Spammers (who are people who spam) follow the direct-marketing technique of saturating the intended audience. They hope for a tiny return from their efforts (normally less that 5 percent). Spammers don’t really care if they offend large number of people, because there always seems to be those few people that respond to the unsolicited advertisement.

The most common forms of spam that reach inboxes everyday are:
• Chain letters
• Pyramid schemes (fake job opportunities)
• “Get Rich Quick” and “Make Money Fast” schemes
• Offers for adult websites and services
• Offers of software that collect e-mail addresses and send spam
• Offers for bulk e-mailing services
• Stock offerings in unknown start-up corporations
• Fake health products and remedies
Spam is not protected by the national Free Speech laws, which is contrary to popular belief. Therefore, anti-spam techniques are not a form of censorship.