Because most governments are nothing more than organized crime made "legal" by assertion, and no matter who loses, they always win?

If the records were used for marketing purposes (as per the story) what material loss would the victims have suffered?

I think the remaining proceeds are independent of the fine, i.e. whatever is left of the money has to be repaid and the govt. gets an additional $500k (who gets first dibs on his cash if he doesn't have enough to pay the fine is anyone's guess, but I would have thought the fine would reflect his financial situation?)

'course, I could be wrong and the gov't are really just a bunch of filthy cheating scumbags...

What is the purpose of a half million dollar fine? To make the fellow destitute for the rest of his life after he gets out of jail? He won't be able to find work in the DBA field after the conviction.

If anyone has raised their financial status above the ordinary by criminal means, and is then required to "surrender" their proceeds (returning them to the financial norm) they won't have enough money to pay a 6-figure fine. Adding "damages" (what, 10 cents apiece for wasted time chucking the junk?) of another $840k is pure theatre.

I can understand the desire to deter the pernicious increase in spam, but are these punishments really proportionate to the harm? Violent offenders get less.

Don't worry I'm sure all your data is safe.

@ Yeah Right,

I would fall about laughing at your observation if it wasn't so frighteningly true.

@Doc Dish

Time, if one classes time as a material resource. I guess annoyance, nuisance, invasion of privacy are not material resources.

I must add, my experience of IT professionals is such that the vast majority ARE honest and diligent.

... people go to all the bother of stealing data then selling it.

In Britain, on the other hand, our government just gives it away on CDs.