Omar Bennett
With the 2024 presidential election just around the corner, American voters are being inundated with political calls and texts. While there is no easy way to prevent these, there are measures you can take to limit their frequency. In this post, we will discuss the various ways in which you can combat unwanted political communication and regain control of your phone.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Opt-out option | Text "STOP" to opt-out of receiving political text messages |
| Reporting spam | Report spam by forwarding the texts to 7726 or "SPAM" |
| Blocking calls | Block the number or don't answer |
| Filtering messages | Depending on your phone type, you may be able to filter messages from unknown numbers |
| Manually dialled calls/texts | Manually dialled calls or texts are not regulated under the TCPA |
| Robocalls/texts | Consent is required for robocalls/texts, which are automated |
| TCPA | The Telephone Consumer Protection Act prohibits contacting someone who has registered their number on a DNC list |
| National Do Not Call Registry | Political calls and texts are exempt from this |
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What You'll Learn
- Political calls and texts are exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry
- Robocalls and robotexts require consent
- Manually dialled calls or texts are not regulated under the TCPA
- Political campaigns face fines for violating TCPA rules
- Artificial Intelligence in political campaigns is an increasingly hot topic
Political calls and texts are exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry
Political calls and texts are currently exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry. This means that political campaigns and affiliated groups can contact people through calls or texts, regardless of whether they have consented to it. According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), this is the case across the US, including in states like Colorado, which has its own no-call list.
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) governs how campaigns are legally allowed to communicate with potential voters through political robocalls and robotexts. The TCPA prohibits contacting someone who has registered their phone number on a Do Not Call (DNC) list. However, political calls and texts are exempt from this rule, and even if you are registered on the National DNC list, you may still receive calls.
Robocalls and robotexts are automated and require consent from the recipient, even for political purposes. People can still receive robocalls on landlines without consent. If you receive a political robotext, you likely gave consent unknowingly, perhaps by signing something online or making a donation. If you wish to opt out of receiving political robotexts, you can reply with the word "STOP". You can also report the sender by forwarding the texts to 7726 or "SPAM".
While there is no easy way to prevent political calls and texts, you can reduce the clutter in your inbox by changing your phone settings to filter out all unknown senders. For iPhones, open Settings, tap the Messages icon, and scroll to "Filter Unknown Senders", then slide the button to the "On" position. For unwanted phone calls, you can block the number or, if you answer and there is a real person on the line, tell them to stop. You should also not respond to anyone that you don't know or aren't expecting a phone call or message from.
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Robocalls and robotexts require consent
Robocalls and robotexts are often done using an autodialer, a device that automates the process. Because of this, people must give their consent to be contacted on their cell phones, even when the nature of the call is political.
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) was enacted in 1991 by Congress to combat unwanted telephone marketing calls by placing restrictions on the use of an automated telephone dialing system (ATDS) or autodialer. The TCPA also prohibits calling wireless phone numbers using an ATDS unless the caller has obtained prior express consent or if the call is for emergency purposes.
The TCPA outlines that companies must obtain a consumer's "prior express consent" before sending them robocalls or robotexts. This consent can be revoked at any time and in any reasonable manner, such as using opt-out mechanisms provided on robocalls, responding with "stop" to a text message, or submitting an opt-out request via a designated website or phone number. The FCC has clarified that this revocation of consent extends to both robocalls and robotexts, regardless of the medium used to communicate the revocation.
Political campaign-related autodialed or prerecorded voice calls, including autodialed live calls, autodialed texts, and prerecorded voice messages, are prohibited to cell phones or other mobile devices without the called party's prior express consent. However, these types of calls and texts are permitted to landlines without prior consent, according to the FCC.
While there is no easy way to prevent all political calls and texts, robocalls and robotexts are not allowed without consent, even for political purposes. To reduce unwanted clutter in your text inbox, you can change your phone settings to filter out all unknown senders. Additionally, you can report unwanted political text messages by forwarding them to 7726 or "SPAM."
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Manually dialled calls or texts are not regulated under the TCPA
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) was enacted in 1991 by the United States Congress to combat unwanted telephone marketing calls by placing restrictions on the use of an automated telephone dialing system (ATDS) and artificial or prerecorded voices. The TCPA also applies to texts and mandates that companies must obtain prior express written consent to send them.
However, manually dialled calls or texts are not regulated under the TCPA. This means that political campaigns or affiliated groups can contact people manually through calls or texts regardless of whether they consented to it. This is because the TCPA only applies to calls or texts made using an ATDS or prerecorded message, which require prior express consent.
While there is no easy way to prevent political calls and texts, you can opt out of receiving them. If you receive a political text, you can opt out by texting "STOP". Campaigns must honour this request. You can also report the sender by forwarding the text to 7726 or "SPAM". Alternatively, you can change your phone settings to filter out all unknown senders.
It is important to note that the TCPA does not apply to landlines in the same way as cell phones. Robocalls are permitted to landlines without prior consent, but are limited to no more than three calls within any consecutive 30-day period.
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Political campaigns face fines for violating TCPA rules
Political campaigns are exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry, according to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). This means that campaigns can contact people through calls or texts, regardless of whether they have consented to it. However, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) governs how campaigns are allowed to communicate with potential voters through political robocalls and robotexts.
The TCPA was enacted in 1991 by Congress to combat unwanted telephone marketing calls by restricting the use of an automated telephone dialing system (ATDS) or autodialer. Under the TCPA, campaigns must obtain prior express written consent to make robocalls and robotexts to residential phone numbers, and prior express consent for informational calls and text messages to these numbers. The TCPA also prohibits calling wireless phone numbers using an ATDS unless the caller has obtained prior express consent or if the call is for emergency purposes.
To opt out of receiving political text messages, individuals can reply "STOP" to the message. They can also report the sender by forwarding the texts to 7726 or "SPAM". Individuals can also block the number or not answer, and if they do answer and there is a real person on the line, they can tell them to stop.
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Artificial Intelligence in political campaigns is an increasingly hot topic
The use of artificial intelligence in political campaigns is an increasingly hot topic, with experts raising several alarms. AI is being used to create fake robocalls and news stories, generate campaign content such as speeches, emails, and social media posts, and even manipulate election results. While AI can benefit political campaigns by improving efficiency and lowering costs, it also raises ethical concerns and can contribute to the erosion of voter trust.
AI tools can collate information and election resources much faster and in greater depth than human political aides, making them appealing to candidates with tight budgets. AI can automate repetitive tasks, such as drafting emails, managing social media, and generating content. It can also be used to prepare candidates for debates and speaking engagements and to develop targeted advertising.
However, the lack of federal regulations around the use of AI in political campaigns has led to concerns about election manipulation, voter suppression, and misinformation. AI can be used to create deceptively realistic "deepfakes," depicting people saying or doing things they didn't do, or events that never occurred. These fraudulent uses of AI can mislead the public about candidates' positions and infringe on voters' rights to make informed decisions.
The Campaign Legal Center (CLC) is working to address the impact of AI on democracy by educating the public and recommending policy solutions. Bipartisan legislation has been introduced in Congress to prohibit the distribution of deceptive AI-generated content in elections. However, many proposed solutions are still not enough to provide tangible protection for voters and the electoral process. As AI continues to play a growing role in political campaigns, it is crucial to have strong regulations in place to uphold the integrity of elections and protect voters' rights.
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Frequently asked questions
While there is no easy way to prevent political calls and texts, you can opt-out of receiving further communications by replying "STOP" to the message. You can also report the sender by forwarding the texts to 7726 or "SPAM". Alternatively, you can block the number or not answer the call.
Yes, according to the Federal Communications Commission, campaigns or affiliated groups can contact people through calls or texts regardless of whether they consented to it.
The TCPA was enacted in 1991 by Congress to combat unwanted telephone marketing calls by placing restrictions on the use of an automated telephone dialing system (ATDS). Under the TCPA, organizations must obtain prior express written consent to make robocalls and robotexts to residential phone numbers.
