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Hey developers, stop forcing me to login to unsubscribe

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Re: Hey developers, stop forcing me to login to unsubscribe

#31
post #5

If a sender does not let me unsubscribe without logging in, I usually end up (after 3 or 4 times clicking the unsubscribe link, getting frustrated, and deleting the email) adding a filter to automatically mark their emails as spam.

I mark as spam and automatically move it to the trash. I actively try to see if spam maybe missed on accident and I don't need that in the way. I also don't bother unsubbing because it always seem like you get more spam. Why take any chances?

Re: Hey developers, stop forcing me to login to unsubscribe

#34

Edit: I missed the transactional part here. Transactional emails are excluded from CAN-SPAM. There's a test to figure out which is which: http://www.the-dma.org/press/PrimaryPurposeFactSheet.pdf It's shitty UX regardless of whether it's a violation of law, IMO. Original: It's a violation of CAN-SPAM law to put unsubscribe behind a login process. Asking for a password violates the requirement that no additional PII ex…

That law is plainly unconstitutional. Besides which, anyone who trusts the privacy or authenticity of email is a fucking retard.

Re: Hey developers, stop forcing me to login to unsubscribe

#35
post #28

This is really annoying. What I find more annoying is response like "We will process your request within 30 business days." (and after that period receive another spam). What could possibly take 30 business days to unsubscribe email? This is evil. I would also like to see some sort of standard - like email header with link, that would unsubscribe you. Outlook/thunderbird/etc could just show button (probably next to "…

> What could possibly take 30 business days to unsubscribe email? This is evil.

Companies can, and do, take out lists of subscribers and pass them to agencies to run campaigns for them, with potentially long lead times. Still stupid, but that's usually the reason.

Regarding standard, the List-Unsubscribe: header is sort-of that. It's not used much because there's little reason to - most clients don't do anything with them.

Re: Hey developers, stop forcing me to login to unsubscribe

#36

Edit: I missed the transactional part here. Transactional emails are excluded from CAN-SPAM. There's a test to figure out which is which: http://www.the-dma.org/press/PrimaryPurposeFactSheet.pdf It's shitty UX regardless of whether it's a violation of law, IMO. Original: It's a violation of CAN-SPAM law to put unsubscribe behind a login process. Asking for a password violates the requirement that no additional PII ex…

That law is plainly unconstitutional. Besides which, anyone who trusts the privacy or authenticity of email is a fucking retard.

What constitutional right is being violated here?

Re: Hey developers, stop forcing me to login to unsubscribe

#39
I'm inclined to think requiring the login is an intentional choice in most cases rather than an oversight; it raises a barrier to unsubscribing, and can even make it impossible, if you never set up an account in the first place. It's sort of like saying you can unsubscribe if you like, without actually providing the option; it offers plausible deniability.

I just click on "Spam" and, if it continues, set up a filter to /dev/null.

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