A method for filtering email messages for a user, includes (a) obtaining from the user a first set of email addresses over which the user asserts authority and a second set of email addresses from which email messages are to be accepted; (b) obtaining from the email messages the sender and recipient email addresses; and (c) filtering the email messages directed to any one of the email addresses in the first set of email addresses according to the second set of email addresses. In one implementation, accepted email addresses are generalized from the second set of email addresses. Once a user's email address is accepted, email from email addresses owned by the same sender are automatically accepted.