The Federal Communication Commission Implements A New Regulation That Targets Spam Text Messages

The Federal Communications Commission is cracking down on scam text messages.

On Thursday, the FCC declared that it had implemented its first regulations to combat fraudulent text messages. The new regulations mandate mobile service providers to restrict robotext messages that could be illegal and originate from invalid phone numbers.

“Text message scams are an increasingly pervasive consumer threat, with a more than 500% increase in complaints in recent years,” the FCC says. “From 2015 to 2022, robotext complaints rose from around 3,300 to 18,900 per year. And robotexts pose a unique threat to consumers. Unlike robocalls, scam text messages are hard to ignore or hang-up on and are nearly always read by the recipient.”

In addition, the second rule requires wireless providers to establish a communication channel for text senders or mandate their aggregator partners or blocking contractors to establish one. This enables senders to make inquiries about texts that were blocked.

Additionally, the FCC is considering eliminating the “lead generator loophole.” The loophole allows companies to utilize a consumer’s approval to send robocalls and texts from various marketers on topics that may not be relevant to the initial consent.