Today in History is a daily newsletter from Britannica. (more) Today in History—May 3: The World’s First Spam Email Is Sent Written by Amy McKenna Amy McKenna is a senior editor, primarily focused on geography and history matters pertaining to sub-Saharan Africa. She joined Encyclopaedia Britannica in 2004. She was previously employed by Standard... Amy McKenna Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Apr. 27, 2026 •History On this day in 1978, a marketing manager for a Massachusetts computer company unknowingly made history: He sent the first spam email. Today in History is a daily newsletter from Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Want to learn more about what happened on May 3, or any other day of the year? Sign up to receive the newsletter in your inbox every morning. The Internet as we know it did not yet exist. But ARPANET, an...

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