Robocalls Are (Finally) Being Shaken Up

Hey, have you heard that your car’s extended warranty is about to expire? That’s what the disembodied robot voice on the other end of the phone wants you to think, anyway. Fortunately, these incessant spam calls may soon be getting less frequent.

This week, the US Federal Communications Commission closed a loophole in a policy that requires voice service carriers to adhere to a standard that would help block robocalls. All carriers in the US are now required to utilize a tech known as Stir/Shaken (an acronym for a very long and unwieldy title of federal standards for calls). It’s a way to identify legitimate carriers and allow them to connect calls, while blocking out those who are trying to spam you...