Monday, 20 May 2024

Supreme Court Strengthens Anti-Robocalling Laws

Consumers tired of robocalls can breath a sigh of relief, as the Supreme Court has shored up a law banning the practice.

Polling and political organizations had sought to have a law banning robocalls overturned, in their efforts to reach voters. To bolster their case, they cited an exemption that allows the federal government to robocall individuals to collect debts, specifically loans held or guaranteed by the government. As Reuters points out, this would include many mortgages and student loans.

Needless to say, the argument didn’t go the way the political groups wanted. Not only did the Supreme Court not overturn they law, they instead struck down the amendment exempting the federal government. Even the FCC, while supporting the ban, had wanted the federal exemption to be left in place.

“Americans passionately disagree about many things. But they are largely united in their disdain for robocalls. The federal government receives a staggering number of complaints about robocalls – 3.7 million complaints in 2019 alone. The states likewise field a constant barrage of complaints,” Justice Kavanaugh wrote.

Consumers are the real winners in this decision. It’s clear that united disdain for robocalls was a large motivating factor in the Supreme Court strengthening this particular law.