Agency Seeks Legislation

Establishing Email Registry

By Susan Haigh

Associated Press

HARTFORD — A state agency report has recommended that lawmakers create a registry to shield youngsters from the marketing of illegal or illicit products, despite a constitutional challenge to a similar Utah database.

The Department of Consumer Protection said a registry of “contact points” used by children — such as email addresses, cellphone, pager, and fax numbers — would help prevent illicit or illegal products and services from being marketed to minors.

If the report’s recommendations become law, Connecticut will be the third state to establish a registry for parents and legal guardians to place their child’s cellphone number or email address on a “Do Not Call” list. Michigan, in addition to Utah, has such a registry.

Rep Michael Lawlor, D-East Haven, co-chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said he is uncertain if such a registry is possible. It sounds good in theory, but could have numerous practical problems, he said.

“If it’s not actually going to work very well, what would be the point of doing it?” he asked.

The Free Speech Coalition, a trade association for the adult entertainment industry, is challenging the constitutionality of the Utah registry.

Marketers claim such registries violate their freedom of speech and expression. They also claim the registries are rife with logistical problems and may create unintended consequences, possibly increasing unwanted email and harming legitimate marketers.

Gov M. Jodi Rell initially proposed the idea in her budget last year and her spokesman said she continues to support it. A bill is expected to be drafted this legislative session.

“Governor Rell believes we have an obligation to protect minors from commercial messages that are inappropriate to their age, commercial messages that solicit them to buy items that they are already precluded by law from buying — like pornography, illegal drugs, firearms, and other weapons,” said Adam Liegeot, a spokesman for Gov Rell.

“The governor feels that a registry can be created which ensures the privacy of both registrants and senders while providing real benefits to law enforcement,” he said.

The Department of Consumer Protection report recommends hiring a private vendor to handle the registry. The Utah and Michigan registries are designed and operated by Unspam Registries Inc, a Utah-based company.

In both states, parents and guardians can add minors’ email addresses to a “Do Not Email” list. Companies then “scrub” their email lists against the registry monthly and any matched addresses are blocked from receiving mail from that firm. The participating companies must pay a fee for each address checked against the registry.

Marketers complain that the cost of “scrubbing” email lists against the registry database each month could be prohibitive and hurt legitimate emarketing.

Law enforcement authorities in Utah and Michigan have had difficulty tracking down some violators of the registry law because of the “transnational scope of electronic communication,” according to the Department of Consumer Protection report.

But the report said there has been some success in limiting the illicit or illegal messages.