Jonah Patel
Political text messages have become a common occurrence, with many people expressing frustration at the high volume of texts they receive. These texts are often sent by political organizations to encourage voter participation and can be a nuisance, especially when they become frequent or continue even after the election season has ended. While there is no single solution to stopping all political texts, there are several measures individuals can take to limit their receipt of such messages. This includes being cautious when providing phone numbers online, replying STOP to opt out, and reporting spam or suspicious messages to the relevant authorities.
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What You'll Learn
- Political texts can be a nuisance and pose risks to your privacy
- You can block the sender or report the text as spam by forwarding it to 7726
- Political groups can't use autodialers to spam you with texts unless you've given consent
- Political campaigns have embraced text messaging as a pivotal component of their outreach strategies
- Political texts may continue after an election is over
Political texts can be a nuisance and pose risks to your privacy
Political text messages can be a nuisance, especially during election campaigns. They can also pose risks to your privacy and influence your voting decisions. These messages are sent to convince you of who to vote for in the upcoming election. They may also try to get you to donate money to a candidate or campaign.
You may have unknowingly given consent to receive these texts while donating to a political organization or signing up for updates on their website. Political groups can't use autodialers to spam you with texts unless you've explicitly said it's okay. However, the Supreme Court's definition of autodialers allows a lot of texting technology to circumvent this rule. So, if you've ever liked a political meme, taken an online survey, or donated to a cause, you might have inadvertently put yourself on their radar.
To reduce the number of political texts you receive, be cautious when providing your phone number online. Additionally, both manual and automated political texts should cease contact if you reply with "STOP." You can also block the sender or forward the text to 7726 to report it as spam. Most smartphones have built-in spam blockers, and there are filtering apps available that can help you flag potential spam.
If you suspect a text is part of a phishing scheme, do not click any links or provide any personal information. Instead, forward the message to the Anti-Phishing Working Group at reportphishing@apwg.org. You can also contact the sender to verify their authenticity before taking any action.
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You can block the sender or report the text as spam by forwarding it to 7726
If you're tired of receiving countless political text messages, you're not alone. Political campaigns have increasingly embraced text messaging as a pivotal component of their outreach strategies. With the pandemic forcing campaigns to pivot from in-person events, texting became an even more popular medium. While there is no single sure-fire way to stop campaigns from reaching out to you, there are several measures you can take to limit the number of political texts you receive and protect your privacy.
Firstly, be cautious when entering your phone number online. Pay attention to text message opt-ins, as both manual and automated political texts should cease contact if you reply with "STOP," “STOPALL,” “ENDALL,” or “CANCEL." This is because, according to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), you must give consent to receive automated robotexts, and campaigns must follow rules under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.
Secondly, if you believe you're receiving texts that don't follow FCC rules, you have the option to block the sender or report the text as spam by forwarding it to 7726 (or "SPAM"). This will alert your wireless carrier to investigate the sender and potentially block future messages. Most smartphones also have built-in spam blockers that allow you to silence messages from unknown senders. Additionally, you can use call-and-text-blocking apps, such as Should I Answer?, Hiya, and Truecaller. However, these apps may ask for sensitive information, so proceed with caution.
It's important to be vigilant about the content of the political texts you receive. Sometimes, bad actors exploit political texts to deceive recipients into clicking malicious links or divulging personal information. They may impersonate legitimate campaigns or candidates and urge you to take immediate action. If a text message seems suspicious, do not click any links or respond. Instead, report it as spam or block the number directly. Remember, your vote is your voice, so make informed choices free from outside influence.
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Political groups can't use autodialers to spam you with texts unless you've given consent
Political text messages can be a nuisance, especially during election time. These messages can also pose risks to your privacy and influence your voting decisions. So, it is essential to understand how to manage these communications to make informed choices free from outside influence.
According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), you must give consent to receive automated political text messages or "robotexts". This means that voters need to have given clear permission to be contacted via text. Political organizations may have asked for this consent while you were donating on their website, signing up for updates, or taking an online survey about democracy. However, organizations can avoid some of these restrictions if the text is sent manually. These manually sent texts may include the recipient's name or other personalized information.
The use of an automatic telephone dialing system (ATDS), also known as an autodialer, to send text messages without prior consent is prohibited. An autodialer is defined as any equipment with the capacity to store or produce telephone numbers to be called or texted, using a random or sequential number generator. The Supreme Court's ruling in Facebook, Inc. v. Duguid (2021) narrowed the definition of an autodialer, allowing political campaigns more leeway in using modern texting platforms that do not employ such random or sequential number generation.
If you are receiving unwanted political texts, you can take several measures to limit their frequency or stop receiving them altogether. Be aware of text message opt-ins when entering your phone number online. Both manual and automated political texts should cease contact if you reply with "STOP", "STOPALL", "ENDALL", or "CANCEL". You can also block the sender or forward the text to 7726 to report it as spam. Additionally, most smartphones have a built-in spam blocker that allows users to silence messages from unknown senders, and there are filtering apps that users can install to flag potential spam.
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Political campaigns have embraced text messaging as a pivotal component of their outreach strategies
Political organizations can leverage extensive databases and digital tools to gather voter contact information, including phone numbers and other demographic details. In the United States, state and local governments maintain voter registration records, which are considered public information and easily accessible to campaigns. Additionally, data brokers play a role in collecting and selling consumer data, enabling campaigns to create detailed voter profiles for targeted outreach.
Text messaging is particularly useful for political campaigns as it facilitates two-way communication. Supporters can opt-in to receive campaign updates, event promotions, and peer-to-peer texting conversations. Campaigns can also use text banking, personalized appeals, and automated surveys to engage voters and collect feedback. Furthermore, the inclusion of URLs in text messages makes it convenient for supporters to access websites or donation pages, fostering higher engagement and contributing to fundraising goals.
While text messaging is an effective strategy, it is essential to respect voters' privacy and preferences. Campaigns must register with relevant text-messaging registries to ensure compliance with industry standards for opt-in and opt-out procedures. Voters can limit the number of political texts they receive by being cautious when providing their phone numbers online and exercising their right to revoke consent for receiving such messages.
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Political texts may continue after an election is over
Political text messages can be a nuisance and may continue even after an election is over. There are several reasons why you may still be receiving these texts. Firstly, political organizations and committees may have your consent to send automated messages, which you may have unknowingly given while donating on their website or signing up for updates. Secondly, your phone number may be publicly available through voter registration lists, which anyone can access. Additionally, data aggregators can collect and sell phone number lists to interested political groups or Political Action Committees (PACs).
These messages may also come from scammers or PACs looking to phish for money, even after the election is over. They may ask you to click a link to donate money, sign a petition, or participate in a survey. It is important to be cautious and not click on any suspicious links, as bad actors may exploit political texts to deceive recipients into divulging personal information.
To reduce the number of political texts you receive, you can try blocking the sender or reporting the message as spam by forwarding it to 7726. Additionally, be mindful of text message opt-ins when entering your phone number online. You can also contact the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to file a complaint or learn more about their rules for political campaign texts.
While it may be challenging to completely stop receiving political texts, taking these steps can help limit their frequency and protect your privacy. Remember, your vote is your voice, and it's important to make informed choices free from outside influence.
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Frequently asked questions
Political organizations use text messages as a pivotal component of their outreach strategies. They obtain phone numbers from public or private sources and send out mass texts to encourage voters to exercise their right to vote.
You can limit the number of political texts you receive by being aware of text message opt-ins when entering your phone number online. You can also reply "STOP" to any political text you receive, and they are required to stop texting you. You can also block the number.
If you receive a suspicious political text, do not reply to it. Instead, report it as spam by forwarding the text to 7726, which can prompt the wireless carrier to investigate the sender and block future messages. You can also file an informal complaint with the FCC at fcc.gov/complaints.
You can install filtering apps that flag real texts from potential spam. You can also monetize each transaction by applying a "virtual stamp" that costs the sender a small amount of money to send you a message.
