New FTC rule to put an end to SPIT

The FTC is trying to stop SPIT (Spam over Internet Telephony) by introducing a new ruling that will make it illegal to make unsolicited prerecorded telemarketing calls. While this may be a step in the right direction, it won't do anything to prevent unsolicited live telemarketing calls. Moshe Yudkowsky has other problems with the new ruling too, stating that it could kill many promising Voice 2.0 features.

I tend to agree with Moshe. The only way to opt-in for legal prerecorded calls is to give written permission to do so. In this day and age, who is going to collect handwritten signatures from every subscriber? This permission should logically extend to e-mail as well.

The FTC will only be taking comments on this proposal until November 6.

Categories: FTC, SPIT, VoIP, Moshe Yudkowsky, Security, VoIP Service