FCC fines robocaller a record $300M after blocking billions of their scam calls
FCC fines robocaller a record $300M after blocking billions of their scam calls
The FCC ordered a record $300 million forfeiture, but whether and when that money will be paid is, as always, something of an open question.
There is a discussion on Hacker News, but feel free to comment here as well.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
The FCC’s robocaller penalties are growing as the agency tracks down and terminates their operations — this time resulting in a record $300 million forfeiture.
“Armed with the facts [the FCC] gave phone companies permission to cut off this traffic before going one step further and directing them to block it outright.
The FCC is limited to investigating, taking counter-actions (like asking phone companies to stop carrying certain callers), and documenting the extent of the alleged criminal activity.
A few years ago I wrote about how these fines often end up largely unpaid or drastically reduced due to loopholes and a lack of resources on the enforcers’ side.
Today’s operation is described as being “transnational,” which is not elaborated upon but strongly suggests even greater difficulties in tracking down and squeezing the money out of those responsible.
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1Top comment: "Can we take a moment to appreciate the fact that the actor playing the criminal got so into character, that he went out and committed actual felonies"
That's Jay Johnston, Jan 6 rioter, his charges did include a felony! He doesn't seem to have gone to trial yet, at least I can't find any news about it.
The replies to that comment are a tragic shitshow, of course
1People in government don’t want to pay to be able to actually bust white-collar criminals. Tell me something new.
1