Legal Definitions - Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands

Definition: These three territories have different laws regarding commercial email and spam, telemarketing and telephonic anti-solicitation, unlawful trade practices, pornography, and computer-related crime.

Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands do not have specific laws regarding commercial email and spam.

Guam requires telemarketers to register and be regulated under Guam Code Annotated, Title 5, Chapter 32, Article 3 (§§ 32301-32308). Puerto Rico regulates telemarketing practices and prohibits abusive telemarketing practices under Leyes de Puerto Rico, Act No. 210, August 28, 2003 (codified in Laws of Puerto Rico, Title 10, Subtitle 3, Chapter 308). The U.S. Virgin Islands regulate telemarketing practices under Virgin Islands Code Annotated, Title 12A, Chapter 6 (§§ 303, 310).

Guam prohibits deceptive trade practices under Guam Code Annotated, Title 5, Chapter 32, Article 2, § 32201. The U.S. Virgin Islands prohibit deceptive trade practices under Virgin Islands Code Annotated, Title 12A, §§ 102, 301-35.

Guam prohibits indecent displays to children through electronic media under Guam Code Annotated, Title 9, Chapter 25.01 (§§ 25.01.00-25.01.40). The U.S. Virgin Islands prohibit obscene internet contact with minors under Virgin Islands Code Annotated, Title 14, Chapter 23a (§ 490).

Guam criminalizes indecent electronic displays to children under Guam Code Annotated, Title 9, Chapter 25.01 (§§ 25.01.00-25.01.40) and limits the use of email by registered sex offenders under Guam Code Annotated, Title 9, Chapter 89 (§ 89.14). Puerto Rico's Penal Code of 2004 (Book II, Title I, Chapter 5, Section 3, Article 189) makes it a misdemeanor to intrude on personal tranquility through threatening, abusive, obscene, or lewd emails under Laws of Puerto Rico, Title 33, Subtitle 5, Part I, Chapter 301, Subchapter 3, § 4817.

For example, if someone in Guam sends an indecent email to a child, they could be charged with a crime. Similarly, if a registered sex offender in Guam uses email in a way that violates their criminal limits, they could face legal consequences. In Puerto Rico, if someone sends threatening or obscene emails to another person, they could be charged with a misdemeanor. These laws are in place to protect people from harmful or illegal activities that can occur through electronic communication.