Washington has a new anti-spyware law

Gregoire also signed a bill toughening penalties against spyware - programs that secretly monitor what you do on your computer. The new spyware law will allow the state attorney general to seek damages up to $100,000 per violation or actual damages, whichever is greater. Washington courts can choose to triple the damages for companies or people who spread spyware, up to $2 million.

I don't know how effective this will be in slowing the spread of spyware but it does make me feel better that government has recognized the seriousness of the spyware problem and hopefully it will make some people think twice before spreading these malicious programs. One big problem might be defining what spyware is.