The term “CAN-SPAM Footer” refers to the requirements of the CAN-SPAM Act in the United States. CAN-SPAM stands for “Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography And Marketing Act” and is a law that aims to regulate unsolicited email advertising and spam.
Under the CAN-SPAM Act, commercial emails must contain clear information about who is sending the email and a way for the recipient to unsubscribe from further emails. This information should be placed in a so-called “footer” area of the email. The footer typically contains contact details of the sender as well as a clearly visible link or instruction on how the recipient can unsubscribe from further emails.
Compliance with these regulations is important to avoid legal consequences, as the CAN-SPAM Act provides for fines for violations. The footer therefore serves to ensure transparency and user control over the receipt of promotional emails.
The CAN-SPAM Act requires companies that send commercial emails to fulfill certain requirements, including
- Accurate sender information: The email must contain clear and accurate information about who is sending the message.
- Subject line: The subject line of the email must not be misleading.
- Opt-out option: The e-mail must contain an opt-out option so that recipients can reject future messages.
- Physical address: The email must contain a physical postal address of the sender.
- Identification as advertising: The e-mail must be clearly identified as advertising.
The “CAN-SPAM footer” often refers to the section at the end of an email that fulfills the above requirements. This section usually contains unsubscribe information, the sender’s physical address and other relevant details to ensure compliance with CAN-SPAM requirements.
Even if a company is based in Europe but emails customers in the United States, compliance with this legislation must be checked.
