The act of registering an individual for electronic correspondence without their explicit consent or through deceptive practices, resulting in unwelcome messages, can be categorized as a form of digital nuisance. An example of this would be automatically subscribing someone to a promotional newsletter after they made a single purchase from an unrelated website.
This practice undermines the principles of permission-based marketing, potentially damaging brand reputation and consumer trust. Historically, such techniques were more prevalent, but increased awareness and stricter regulations have led to a decline. Respecting user consent and employing ethical email acquisition strategies is crucial for long-term business success and compliance with data privacy laws.