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from the believe-it-when-you-see-it dept.
https://www.engadget.com/2018/11/06/fcc-caller-id-authentication-2019/
Even if you don't agree with Ajit Pai's stance on some important issues, you might still want to hear about his latest campaign against robocalls. The FCC chairman has demanded (PDF) the adoption of a robust call authentication system to prevent caller ID spoofing, telling American carriers to implement the technology no later than 2019. Pai has sent letters to the CEOs of 14 voice providers to ask them to conjure up concrete plans to adopt the SHAKEN/STIR framework, which would validate legitimate calls across networks before they reach recipients. That would block spam and scam robocalls from going through, so you don't have to be wary of answering calls anymore.
"Combatting illegal robocalls is our top consumer priority at the FCC. That's why we need call authentication to become a reality -- it's the best way to ensure that consumers can answer their phones with confidence. By this time next year, I expect that consumers will begin to see this on their phones," Pai said in a statement.
He asked the carriers about their implementation plans and warned that if it doesn't seem like the call authentication system is on track to get up and running by 2019, the FCC will take action. Pai didn't elaborate on what the FCC will do, but the agency says it "stands ready to ensure widespread deployment to hit this important technological milestone."
(Score: 2) by SomeGuy on Wednesday November 07 2018, @03:16PM (7 children)
I'm sure a lot of people have been getting those political robocalls lately. The worst thing about those, at least the ones I get, is they are rarely actual campaigns but rather "research firms" that want you to answer a bunch of automated (probably privacy invading/scammy) questions and there never seems to be any way to tell them fuck off and not to call again. Then the _exact same_ robonazis call 100 more times.
At any rate, I have never once heard any kind of political robocall that was ever informative, useful, or in any way should be allowed.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Wednesday November 07 2018, @03:38PM (5 children)
Have you tried what Runaway does? He never answers the phone. Instead, he lets the answering machine answer. Many of those robofools won't talk to the answering machine, just like real people. It seems they won't call back if the answering machine answers, either.
The last time I accidentally picked up some marketing thing, it was because they asked for me, by name. I thought the voice sounded familiar, so I picked up. "Good morning, Mr. Runaway. I'm with blah blah blah, would you mind answering a few questions?" I laid the phone down, and walked away from it. The wife came home a couple hours later, and asked why the phone was laying on her desk. I just shrugged, and asked if her cats were on her desk again.
(Score: 2) by legont on Wednesday November 07 2018, @04:42PM (2 children)
I also let Google to transcript whatever my phone has to say. If it can't or I don't like what I read - forgetaboutit.
Which makes me wonder, what king of screwed information all that "opinion pools research" or whatever they are called are getting. Political, economical, social - it's all bullshit at this point. We should expect more "surprises" similar to Trump election.
"Wealth is the relentless enemy of understanding" - John Kenneth Galbraith.
(Score: 2) by urza9814 on Wednesday November 07 2018, @06:57PM (1 child)
That may be exactly the point. It's illegal to robocall cell phones (although occasionally they do it anyway), and all those young kids with their crazy new ideas don't have landlines, so phone surveys ought to give a predictably non-random "random sample".
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @07:14PM
When I have the time... I like gving them bogus and condictor answers. LOVE screw with them and WASTE THEIR time.
AFter going arround or two with press 7/92 to opt out. I press the 1 and waste 15+ minutes of them selling to me. I even got one guy to false information into the US Gov website for Student Loans, since I do not have an email. And I love the Gov site most all have under the penally of purgatory attached.
My favour name is "Fred Rod" or "Rod Fredrick". I dwrote many CRCard Processing systems, so I can credit numbers the clear basic tests. Same for SS IDs and Plus street addresses. So much fun. Normally, after they try and try to it it to work... I say, "Can you say my really fast?" Normally, the Clue-by-4 comes out. And point out all the fraud that they have done on their equipment + the lost time and money they could have else where. So when I opt out it is an opt out. Also since that is on my cell phone there is like $1500 per call penally for calling my after I said stop... Simple court order for the circuit id (fake numbers be damn), to unmask them... profit. Though I expect it come back to VoIP.. so the IP leads to ISP, who is in on the criminal act.
(Score: 2, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 07 2018, @06:51PM (1 child)
This is one of the reasons why people are moving to smartphones. Recent versions of Android will allow you to only have the phone ring for starred contacts. Mr. Number is great for hanging up on phone numbers that are likely to be scams. I'll hear like one ring and then it'll be sent to voice mail. I rarely receive any actual voicemails from those calls though.
After a certain point in the evening, I outright block any number from ringing through that isn't specifically somebody that I know well.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by anubi on Wednesday November 07 2018, @09:13PM
Yup, my phone too has become useless in its native form, as has many web pages, as unwanted factions take it on themselves to impose onto everyone else.
Why can't the phone company deal with robocalls and CNI spoofing like they handled blue boxing?
Sure didn't take them long to fix that!
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Wednesday November 07 2018, @10:33PM
If you get them on your cell phone, an Android phone, then you can block them and report them as spam.
The lower I set my standards the more accomplishments I have.