FCC Shouldn't Impose New Robotext Rules: FSF

The FCC should rethink a move to new rules designed to prevent unwanted robotexts, proposed in a recent NPRM (see 2212120029), Free State Foundation Director-Policy Studies Seth Cooper blogged Wednesday. Wireless carriers are using machine learning “and other tools using real-time analysis to combat spam,” he said: “They also act on complaints about texts -- including those with suspicious website links or domain names -- to prevent messages from specific bad actors. And consumers can make use of the mobile device layer filters or downloading specialized apps for combatting unwanted texts.” FCC proposals would likely do little good, he said. “To date, the record in the Commission's proceeding does not provide any solid evidence that consumers are receiving texts from invalid, unallocated, unused, or [do not originate]-listed numbers,” Cooper said. “Mobile wireless providers' existing practice of delivering only those messages that come from other consumers or from non-consumers with verified origination information effectively halts illegal texts that originate from suspect numbers,” he said.