Malcolm Rivera
Political campaigns have been leveraging text messaging as a cheap and effective way to reach voters, with a 98% open rate. However, this has led to concerns about privacy and consent, especially as campaigns may obtain voter phone numbers from voter rolls, master-grabbing tools, or even online purchases. While manually sent messages are generally allowed, automated robotexts require prior express consent under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). To stop unwanted political texts, individuals can reply STOP or file a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Consent required | Political campaigns require the prior express consent of the recipient to send autodialed or prerecorded voice calls, autodialed texts, and robotexts to cell phones and other mobile devices. |
| Opt-out | Recipients can revoke consent at any time by replying "STOP" or asking not to be contacted again. Campaigns should honor opt-out requests. |
| National Do Not Call Registry | Campaign calls and texts are exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry requirements. |
| Regulations | The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulate political campaign robocalls and robotexts. |
| Data collection | Campaigns collect data and phone numbers through voter rolls, web scrapers, and online purchases. |
| Purpose | Political campaigns use texting to encourage voting, raise funds, answer questions, mobilize supporters, and provide information and updates. |
| Effectiveness | Texting has a high open rate (90-98%) and a higher response rate compared to other communication channels. |
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What You'll Learn
- Political campaign text messages are exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry requirements
- However, they must comply with the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and require prior consent
- Consent can be revoked at any time by replying stop or unsubscribe
- Campaigns use P2P texting to jump-start conversations, raise funds, answer questions, and mobilise supporters
- Texting is very personal and can easily annoy the very people campaigns are trying to entice
Political campaign text messages are exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry requirements
Political campaigns have been leveraging text messaging to reach voters, raise funds, answer questions, and provide information. While this strategy has proven effective, with a high open rate, it has also raised concerns about privacy and consent.
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) regulates "robotexts," which are automatic messages sent by a computer and require prior express consent from the recipient. However, political campaigns often claim that texts are sent by volunteers or campaign staff, exempting them from these federal protections. As a result, political campaign text messages fall into a legal grey area, where they are exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry requirements.
The TCPA and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) have specific rules that political campaigns must follow. Political campaigns are prohibited from sending autodialed or prerecorded messages to mobile devices without the recipient's prior express consent. This consent can be revoked at any time by replying "STOP" or requesting to opt-out. Campaigns should honor these requests, and failure to do so may result in an informal complaint to the FCC.
Despite these regulations, political campaigns may still obtain cell phone numbers through various means, such as voter rolls, online purchases, or master-grabbing tools. This has led to concerns about privacy and consent, with many individuals expressing discomfort and considering these unsolicited texts invasive.
To avoid receiving political text messages, individuals can refuse to share their phone numbers on registration forms or request that their information be removed if it has already been shared. Additionally, individuals can opt out of specific text message campaigns by replying "STOP," although they may still receive texts from other companies using the same number due to shared shortcodes.
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However, they must comply with the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and require prior consent
Political campaigns can text you, but they must comply with the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and require prior consent. This is because robocalls and robotexts to mobile phones require prior consent. Political campaigns are exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry requirements, but they must follow the specific rules outlined in the TCPA. This includes obtaining prior express consent from the called party for autodialed or prerecorded voice calls, autodialed texts, and prerecorded voice messages sent to mobile devices. The same restrictions apply to protected phone lines, such as emergency or toll-free lines.
It's important to note that political campaigns often obtain phone numbers through various methods, including voter rolls, master-grabbing tools, and websites. If you have made an online purchase and provided a cellphone number, that is another way for your information to be collected. While it is challenging to keep personal information private, you can protect yourself by carefully reading the terms and conditions of websites before sharing your phone number.
If you are receiving unwanted political text messages, you can take several steps to stop them. First, you can reply "STOP" to the text, and the sender is required to honor your request. You can also report unsolicited texts by forwarding them to 7726 ("SPAM"). Additionally, you can file an informal complaint with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) at fcc.gov/complaints if you believe you have received a political robocall or text that does not comply with the FCC's rules.
It's worth noting that political campaigns say they text voters to jump-start conversations, raise funds, answer questions, mobilize supporters, and offer rides and directions to the polls. Text messaging has a high open rate and is an effective way to reach a large number of people. However, it is essential to respect individuals' preferences, and if you do not wish to receive political text messages, you have the right to opt out and revoke your consent at any time.
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Consent can be revoked at any time by replying stop or unsubscribe
Political campaigns are increasingly turning to text messages to reach voters. While this is an effective strategy, it can be invasive for those on the receiving end. Text messages sent manually by a person are generally considered legal, even without prior consent. However, political campaigns that use autodialers or send automated messages require the prior express consent of the recipient. This falls under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) rules and regulations.
The FCC rules state that consent can be revoked at any time and in any reasonable manner. This means that if you want political campaigns to stop sending you text messages, you can reply with "stop" or "unsubscribe." It is important to note that this only applies to the specific campaign you are replying to, and you may need to opt out multiple times for different campaigns or companies using the same number.
To ensure you do not receive unsolicited text messages from political campaigns, it is best to refrain from providing your phone number on registration forms. You can also join the National Do Not Call Registry at donotcall.gov, although political campaigns are exempt from this. Additionally, you can report unsolicited text messages by forwarding them to 7726 ("SPAM") or filing an informal complaint with the FCC at fcc.gov/complaints.
While it is challenging to keep personal information private, being vigilant about the information you provide online and reading the terms and conditions of websites can help protect your privacy. It is important to note that even if you revoke consent or opt out, there is no guarantee that political campaigns will not save your information for future use.
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Campaigns use P2P texting to jump-start conversations, raise funds, answer questions, and mobilise supporters
Political campaigns can text you, but there are rules in place to protect consumers from unwanted messages. The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) regulates "robotexts", or automatic messages sent by a computer, which require a person's consent to receive them. However, if a campaign says a volunteer or staffer is sending the text, those federal protections do not apply. Campaigns are also exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry requirements.
Peer-to-peer (P2P) texting is a cheap and effective way for political campaigns to jump-start conversations, raise funds, answer questions, and mobilise supporters. It is a manual process of sending one text at a time, typically to lots of people. This means that it is not a violation of the law, even without the recipient's consent. However, campaigns should honour opt-out requests if the recipient replies "STOP".
P2P texting is a powerful tool for political campaigns as it enables them to have text conversations one-on-one with their contacts on a massive scale. This gives them direct access to supporters, allowing them to provide voting instructions, solicit feedback, and send supporters directly to donation pages. It is also a private channel for communication, helping to build trust and increase voter engagement and support.
P2P texting also offers an opportunity for campaigns to collect valuable voter data by engaging in conversations with voters. They can ask about policy preferences and gather insights on specific demographic groups to tailor campaign messages, identify potential supporters, and refine campaign strategies. Additionally, it can be used to promote events, invite participants and donors, and boost attendance and donations.
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Texting is very personal and can easily annoy the very people campaigns are trying to entice
Texting has become an increasingly popular method of communication for political campaigns. With a 98% open rate, it is an effective way to reach voters directly and encourage them to vote. However, it is important to consider the potential drawbacks of this strategy.
Texting is a very personal form of communication, and receiving unsolicited texts can easily annoy the very people campaigns are trying to entice. Some people may view these communications as invasive, especially if they feel their personal information is being exploited. While campaigns may argue that they are manually sending texts and thus not violating the law, recipients may still feel their privacy is being invaded.
The personal nature of texting means that people can get angry about receiving unsolicited messages, even if they are sent manually and not via an autodialer, which would be illegal without prior consent. This risk is heightened when campaigns use data mining techniques to obtain voter cell phone numbers, such as through voter rolls, online purchases, or master-grabbing tools known as scrapers.
To avoid annoying potential supporters, campaigns should ensure they are only texting people who have explicitly consented to receive such communications. They should also honor opt-out requests and provide a clear and simple way to unsubscribe, such as replying "STOP" to any text. By respecting people's privacy and preferences, campaigns can avoid negative backlash and make their texting strategies more effective.
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Frequently asked questions
No, they cannot. Political campaigns require your prior express consent to text you. If you receive unsolicited texts, you can report the sender by forwarding the text to 7726 or "SPAM".
Political campaigns can get your number from voter rolls, master-grabbing tools (scrapers) from websites, or through the information you provide when making an online purchase.
You can text back "STOP" to opt out of receiving further texts. You can also refuse to share your number on registration forms.
Yes, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) contains specific rules that political campaigns must follow. The TCPA regulates robotexts, which are automatic messages sent by a computer and require a person's consent to receive them.
