Yesterday, Google released a video with Matt Cutts answering the question Does Google consider SEO to be spam?
Matt Cutts, the head of Google's web spam team, said out right, no. He said, "We don't consider SEO to be spam."
Here is the video:
In a Google + post by Matt Cutts, he said he made a "definitive" video on this. He told SEOs, "SEOs, feel free to point people to this video if you hear someone claim that all SEOs are shady or sell snake oil."
He doesn't go as far to say that ALL SEOs are not spammers, but there are plenty of good SEOs out there that do not spam.
Forum discussion at Google +.

Comments:
FrackGoogle
10/25/2011 03:51 pm
Frack google. Matt Cutts trying to throw a bone to idiots. Support google's competitors.
SEO services UK
10/25/2011 06:29 pm
Thanks TO google to consider SEO as a process not a spam :)
Justin Howley
10/25/2011 07:48 pm
Phew, that was a close one.
Multilingual ppc
11/03/2011 11:35 am
I disagree your views black hat seo is a big example of spammer mostly seo company before Google Panda used soft ware my ideas is that this is a big spam what is your view about this article.
Los angeles injury attorney
11/14/2011 04:27 pm
I agree. spam only be made whenever SEO wants to easily have link or whatever. But it is really not a spam.