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Apple needs to change iPhone’s call UI because robocalls are killing us

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Re: Apple needs to change iPhone’s call UI because robocalls are killing us

#261
post #225
post #212

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are so many simple solutions to this it's not even a challenge. Here's some simple ones: 1. If you want to make more than ~5k calls per month from a number, you must deposit $50,000 for every 10k calls you wish to make. If your number gets reported more than some cutoff number of times, you forfeit this bond money. 2. Call throttling. As a certain number (or customer) makes more calls, the interval between call…

The problem with both those suggestions is that it's trivial to fake the "from" phone number, as evidenced by the number of spam calls that share my area code and exchange numbers. (Last time I setup asterisk with a T1, this was also trivial, but that was like a decade and a half back. I couldn't tell you how to fake your number today.. it's just clear that it's easy for the scammers to do.) The first problem we need…

It's going nothing to do with the "from" number, get in at the carrier level. Who are they buying their connectivity from? Implement it there.

Re: Apple needs to change iPhone’s call UI because robocalls are killing us

#262

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The downside of this is that it won't prevent companies from collecting your data; it just prevents them from calling you. I've always found registering in a database to object to database registrations that I didn't consent to a rather curious concept. If they call me, then at least I know who's brokering my data? I resisted signing up for the no-call register for a long time. For example, this is how I know that TN…

There is GDPR now in Europe, this should fix that :) - if you live in the EU of course.

The challenge there is that you don't know which companies actually have your information.

Re: Apple needs to change iPhone’s call UI because robocalls are killing us

#263
post #250

In The Netherlands we have a "no-call register" for companies ( https://business.gov.nl/regulation/telesales/#article-do-not... ) I never get robocalls. It's nice to live in a country that believes in smart regulation!

Yep. And live in UK and have never received a single spam call. I don't understand why it's such a large problem in US.

Re: Apple needs to change iPhone’s call UI because robocalls are killing us

#265
post #79
post #60

Fwiw, Android actually does do this. When the phone is unlocked, calls show up as a banner. In addition, they added that new call screening option, I've been using it and so far it has worked fairly well. Also, there is some built-in call filtering and third party apps as well, though I have mostly been able to rely on the built-in filtering. Does iOS really not have any options for filtering? I swear last time I had…

Excellent, I'll add this to the article. No idea why my post went from #1 on HN to the third page in under 30 minutes, I thought we were having a fruitful discussion here

Not sure if this has been mentioned but Android's DnD mode allows granular settings including blocking non-contact calls: https://i.imgur.com/ZcRSXlK.png

Re: Apple needs to change iPhone’s call UI because robocalls are killing us

#266
post #161

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just gotta say it's funny that receiving a phone call on your phone is a major annoyance these days.

I know what you mean but it wasn't funny when I was recording my kid at his first birthday party and got interrupted by a robocall just seconds before he cut the cake. From that day, I've learned to put the phone on DND mode before recording anything memorable.

What I don’t understand is why Apple isn’t fixing this.

It’s simple - it’s broken UI, Android has done it, people want it, it doesn’t help in any way, so why keep it? I mean why? Hell, if you really want to keep it, give an option to disable it.

Re: Apple needs to change iPhone’s call UI because robocalls are killing us

#267
post #250

In The Netherlands we have a "no-call register" for companies ( https://business.gov.nl/regulation/telesales/#article-do-not... ) I never get robocalls. It's nice to live in a country that believes in smart regulation!

Most spam calls in the US originate overseas (India) and ignore US regulation such as do-not-call registries.

Re: Apple needs to change iPhone’s call UI because robocalls are killing us

#268
post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I prefer an economic solution. Currently, you can sue a robocaller under the TCPA, but good luck collecting. Make each carrier liable for judgments against robocallers routed through their network. So, if I sue John Doe for robocalling me and I can’t collect, and I’m a Verizon customer, the make Verizon liable for those damages. This should come with some limits, but they should be large (say 10% of nationwide annual…

How is adding a burden to the courts with suits you know will be unfruitful than a simple regulatory requirement that carriers must do what is clearly the righ thing to do?

I am far from convinced that the FCC is capable of picking a technological solution by fiat that will actually solve the problem, especially since, like almost all crypto, it will surely be easy for the telcos to be lazy and mess up the implementation in a way that robocalls get through.

Instead, I think the regulation should focus on the outcome: if a telco allows an illegal call through and cannot trace it back to a responsible party who can pay the fine, then the telco messed up and should pay for it. Then they’ll have a financial incentive to solve the problem in a way that works.

Re: Apple needs to change iPhone’s call UI because robocalls are killing us

#269
post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I prefer an economic solution. Currently, you can sue a robocaller under the TCPA, but good luck collecting. Make each carrier liable for judgments against robocallers routed through their network. So, if I sue John Doe for robocalling me and I can’t collect, and I’m a Verizon customer, the make Verizon liable for those damages. This should come with some limits, but they should be large (say 10% of nationwide annual…

i bet that instead, you'd just get a new contract in which verizon decided that it was only free to talk to other verizon numbers, and would require you to pay extra to call outside the network. Then, they'd ask you to provide a birth certificate, SSN, CC number, and pay via direct deposit to have an account. if you want to penalize rob dialers, don't penalize companies that are not robodialing, or push the burden of…

Huh? Those robocalls are not originated on Verizon cellphones. A contract like that would do nothing to reduce Verizon’s liability, but it would certainly help drive customers elsewhere.

Re: Apple needs to change iPhone’s call UI because robocalls are killing us

#270
post #180
post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why hasn't there been a class action against carriers for failing to do anything about this problem?

Which law or contact term have the carriers broken?

We could start by adding one.
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