For the past two days I've called attention to the shocking demands by business groups to legalize spyware by permitting the secret installation of computer programs to monitor activities of Canadians suspected a potential contravention of the law. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce's key concern is the very foundation of the law: opt-in consent.

Over the past couple of weeks, there have been a myriad of posts and articles criticizing Canada's anti-spam legislation. According to some posts -- primarily those by Barry Sookman -- the legislation will stop family members from sending commercial e-mail to each other, parents from promoting their children's lemonade stands, and discriminate against charities and schools. Is this true?

If you're wondering what happened to the Conservative government's much-publicized anti-spam law, you're not alone. Many consumers and op...