Omar Bennett
Political campaigns are exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry, and it is common to receive an influx of text messages and calls during election seasons. While there are no foolproof methods to avoid these messages, there are ways to reduce their frequency. For instance, you can report spam messages by forwarding them to 7726 or SPAM, and revoke consent by replying STOP. Additionally, you can file an informal complaint with the FCC if you believe you have received a political robocall or text that does not comply with their rules.
Characteristics and Values
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Campaign calls and texts exemption from National Do Not Call Registry | Yes |
| Political robocalls to landlines without prior consent | Allowed, limited to 3 calls within a 30-day period |
| Political text messages sent to mobile phones using an autodialer | Require prior express consent |
| Manually sent political text messages | Can be sent without prior consent |
| Reporting unwanted political text messages | Forward the text to 7726 or "SPAM" |
| Opting out of political text messages | Reply "STOP" |
| Filing a complaint about political robocalls or texts | File an informal complaint with the FCC at fcc.gov/complaints |
| Blocking spam calls | Use call-blocking solutions like Google's "Call Screen" feature, Samsung's Smart Call, or third-party apps |
| Avoiding spam calls | Be cautious when giving out your phone number, review privacy policies, and opt out of receiving texts when possible |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Political campaigns are exempt from the Do Not Call Registry
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) outlines specific rules that political campaigns must follow when contacting potential supporters. For example, political campaigns are prohibited from using autodialers or pre-recorded voice messages to contact mobile devices without the prior express consent of the recipient. This consent may be given orally or in writing, and it is valid until revoked. Recipients can revoke their consent at any time by replying "STOP" to text messages or requesting not to be called again on a voice call.
In addition to the TCPA, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has implemented further restrictions on political robocalls and robotexts. These include limiting the number of robocalls made to residential landlines without prior consent to no more than three calls within a 30-day period. The FCC also encourages individuals to report unwanted political communication by forwarding the message to 7726 or "SPAM". Individuals can also file an informal complaint with the FCC if they believe a political campaign is not complying with the relevant regulations.
While it may be challenging to completely avoid political spam during election season, individuals can take steps to reduce the number of unwanted communications they receive. This includes being cautious about providing personal information, such as phone numbers, and reviewing privacy policies before submitting any contact details. Additionally, individuals can utilize call-screening and blocking features offered by phone manufacturers and service providers to proactively prevent unwanted calls from reaching their devices.
Negative Campaigns: Democracy's Bane?
You may want to see also
How to block spam texts from politicians
Political text messages can be a nuisance, especially during election season. While campaign calls and texts are exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry requirements, there are still several ways to block spam texts from politicians.
First, you can try to prevent your number from ending up on these lists in the first place. There are many ways for your data to be collected and shared, and once you're on a list, it's hard to get off. Be discerning about giving out your phone number, and read through commercial web forms and check for a privacy policy when submitting your number to any website.
If you're already receiving unwanted texts, you can try replying "STOP", "STOPALL", "ENDALL", or "CANCEL". If the organization messaging you is using texting software, they should remove you from their contact list once you send them one of these keywords. Replying to these texts is more effective than simply blocking the number, because the organization will be notified that you want to opt out. However, if you suspect the number is from a scammer, it's better to just block and report the number, because replying to a scammer lets them know your number is real.
You can also report spam texts by forwarding them to 7726 ("SPAM"). This number should go straight to your carrier, who will then look into it to see if it was sent by a known spammer. If the sender seems particularly sketchy—for example, if they're sending false information or asking for money on an unknown site—it's a good idea to report them.
In addition to built-in phone features like "Call Screen", you can also use a call-and-text-blocking app like Should I Answer?, Hiya, or Truecaller. However, keep in mind that these apps will ask you for sensitive information.
Zyn's Donation to Kamala Harris: What You Need to Know
You may want to see also
Rules for political campaign robocalls and robotexts
Political campaigns are exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry requirements. However, this does not mean that consumers are left without options to reduce the number of unwanted robocalls and robotexts they receive.
Firstly, while political campaigns can send robotexts to mobile phones without prior consent if the message is sent manually, if an autodialer is used, then the called party's prior express consent is required. This means that if you receive an unwanted political robotext that was sent using an autodialer, you can report it by forwarding the text to 7726 or "SPAM".
Secondly, political campaigns are limited to no more than three robocalls to a residential landline phone within any consecutive 30-day period without prior consent. If prior consent is given, there is no limit on the number of calls that can be made to a landline within a 30-day period. However, for calls and texts that require consent, the caller must honor the called party's request to revoke consent, which can be done at any time and in any reasonable manner, such as replying "stop" to a text or asking not to be called again on a voice call.
Thirdly, while it may not reduce the number of robocalls and robotexts received, consumers can file an informal complaint with the FCC if they believe they have received a political robocall or robotext that does not comply with the FCC's rules. This can be done at fcc.gov/complaints, or by mail to the following address:
> Federal Communications Commission
> Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau
> 45 L Street NE
> Washington, DC 20554
Finally, consumers can also make use of third-party call-screening and blocking features offered by phone manufacturers such as Google and Samsung, or by third-party apps that only allow calls and texts from approved numbers.
Who Can Presidential Candidates Vote For? Themselves?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
How to report spam political text messages
Political text messages sent to a mobile phone using an autodialer require the recipient's prior express consent. Manually sent messages, on the other hand, can be sent without prior consent.
If you are receiving political text messages that you did not ask for, you can report them by forwarding them to 7726 (or "SPAM"). You can also request to opt out of receiving these messages by replying "STOP".
If you believe you have received a political robotext that does not comply with the FCC's rules, you can file an informal complaint with the FCC at fcc.gov/complaints. You can also contact them by mail at the following address:
Federal Communications Commission Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau
45 L Street NE Washington, DC 20554
In your message, be sure to include your name, address, contact information, and as many details about your complaint as possible.
In addition to these methods, you can also report spam text messages on the messaging app you use. Look for the option to report junk or spam in the app's settings.
It is worth noting that during election seasons, it is typical to experience an increase in calls and texts from political campaigns. While campaign calls and texts are generally exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry requirements, they must adhere to the rules outlined in the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).
Kamala Harris: Age and Political Career Insights
You may want to see also
Why political text messages are so prevalent
Political text messages have become a common occurrence, with Americans receiving 1.3 billion political campaign text messages during the last election season in October 2022. This influx of messages can be attributed to several factors, including the exemption of political campaigns from the National Do Not Call Registry and the effectiveness of text messaging as a communication channel.
Firstly, political campaigns are exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry, allowing them to send text messages even to those who have registered their numbers on the list. This exemption applies to both commercial and non-commercial text messages, as long as they are sent manually and not through an autodialer, which requires prior express consent from the recipient. This means that even if you have registered your number on the Do Not Call list, you may still receive political text messages, contributing to their prevalence.
Secondly, text messaging is a direct and personal way for political campaigns to reach potential voters. With many people constantly having their mobile phones within arm's reach, text messages have a higher chance of being seen and read than, for example, an email or a physical mailer. Additionally, text messages allow campaigns to include links to donation pages or additional information, making it convenient for recipients to take immediate action. This effectiveness of text messaging as a communication channel incentivizes political campaigns to utilize it extensively.
Furthermore, during election seasons, there is an increase in political activities and campaigns vying for attention. As a result, even if an individual is only interested in one or two races, they may still receive text messages from a multitude of campaigns, contributing to the overall volume of political text messages they receive. This is further exacerbated by the fact that there is no single way most people end up on a list to receive campaign texts. It could be due to previous donations, signing up for something unrelated, or even giving out personal information without realizing it.
While the prevalence of political text messages may be frustrating for some, it is important to note that there are ways to reduce their frequency. Individuals can report unwanted text messages as spam by forwarding them to 7726 and can opt out of receiving future messages by replying "STOP." Additionally, individuals can be cautious about providing their phone numbers and review privacy policies when submitting their information online.
Money and Politics: The Arts' Dilemma
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
No, campaign calls and texts are exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry requirements.
Yes, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) contains specific rules that political campaigns must follow. In general, political text spam sent to mobile phones requires prior consent.
You can report political text spam by forwarding the text to 7726 or "SPAM". You can also reply "STOP" to the text message or file a complaint with the FCC at fcc.gov/complaints.
There isn't a single way that most people wind up on a list to receive campaign texts. Usually, you gave money at some point or signed up for something without realizing that you were giving your number to a political organization.
Be careful about giving out your mobile phone number or any other personal information. Read through commercial web forms and check for a privacy policy when submitting your mobile phone number to any customer website.
