The Wrong Number: Why the FCC's Robocall Strategy Is Destined to Fail
The FCC's new proposal to require photo IDs for obtaining phone numbers is unlikely to effectively combat robocall scams. Critics argue that this approach focuses on paperwork rather than addressing the actual criminal behavior behind the scams. Historical evidence suggests that targeted enforcement against specific criminal organizations is more effective than broad regulatory measures.
- ▪The FCC may require Americans to provide a government-issued photo ID and a residential address to obtain a phone number.
- ▪Fraud losses from phone scams have surged significantly since 2019, indicating a growing problem.
- ▪Targeted enforcement against specific criminal organizations has proven effective in reducing scam calls.
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| Original publisher | Medium |
| Canonical URL | https://brothke.medium.com/the-wrong-number-why-the-fccs-robocall-strategy-is-destined-to-fail-bb596fe8a08e |
| Publication time | Tue, 26 May 2026 16:02:12 +0000 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-05-26T16:07:49.955Z |
| Last seen | 2026-05-26T16:07:49.955Z |
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The Wrong Number: Why the FCC’s Robocall Strategy Is Destined to FailBen Rothke6 min read·3 hours ago--ListenSharePress enter or click to view image in full sizeChatGPTThe FCC wants Americans to hand over photo IDs to get a phone number. Scammers will barely notice.The Federal Communications Commission may soon require Americans to provide a government-issued photo ID and a residential address to obtain a phone number. The agency believes this could help reduce scam robocalls. It almost certainly won’t.The proposal reflects a familiar American regulatory instinct — impose more process, more paperwork, and more friction on ordinary people in the hope that criminals will somehow be inconvenienced too.Does the TSA really do much?History shows that such an approach rarely works against…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Medium.
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