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FCC MOVES TO CRACK DOWN ON SPAM TEXTS
The FCC is looking at forcing cellular providers to block spam text messages,
like they're already required to do for robocalls, but it wants input from the
public first.
By Michael Kan
Michael Kan
Senior Reporter
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My Experience
I've been with PCMag since October 2017, covering a wide range of topics,
including consumer electronics, cybersecurity, social media, networking, and
gaming. Prior to working at PCMag, I was a foreign correspondent in Beijing for
over five years, covering the tech scene in Asia.
Read Full Bio
September 27, 2022
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(Credit: Getty Images)
The FCC is finally working to crack down on spam text messages sent to users’
phones.
On Tuesday, the US regulator kicked off the formal process to introduce new
rules(Opens in a new window) to stop “malicious robotext campaigns,” which can
bombard cell phones with SMS messages.
“The American people are fed up with scam texts, and we need to use every tool
we have to do something about it,” said FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel in
the announcement.
In 2020, the FCC received about 14,000 consumer complaints about unwanted text
messages, an increase of 146% from the year before. In 2021, complaints
increased again to 15,300. Spam text messages can promote scams or trick users
into downloading malware. The FCC says(Opens in a new window) consumers lost $86
million to robotext scams in 2020; the median amount lost per victim was $800.
In response, the FCC is looking at forcing cellular providers to block spam text
messages, like they're already required to do for robocalls. The FCC proposal
would mandate that cellular providers block texts that come from “invalid,
unallocated, or unused number or on the Do-Not Originate List,” along with spam
texts from spoofed phone numbers.
“We also believe that increases in illegal texts may be a result of our work to
stop unwanted calls —incentivizing scammers and others to shift to texting,” the
FCC notes.
RECOMMENDED BY OUR EDITORS
How to Block Robocalls and Spam Calls
US State Attorneys General Form Nationwide Anti-Robocalling Task Force
FCC Goes After Voice Providers Enabling 8 Billion Auto-Warranty Robocalls
In addition, the Commission wants to require cellular providers to block the
spam text without requiring users to go through the hassle of opting in or
opting out. But before the FCC considers implementing the rules, the Commission
will first take input from the public and industry stakeholders on which
measures could be effective or problematic.
The FCC’s proposal adds: “Because we only propose that text messages deemed
highly likely to be illegal would be subject to blocking, we believe the risk of
erroneous blocking to be minimal.”
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I've been with PCMag since October 2017, covering a wide range of topics,
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