Global Security, Privacy, & Risk Management

RoboCop on RoboCallers? October 22, 2012

RoboCop (c) 1987 Orion Pictures Corporation

Taking a page from web and application companies, the Federal Trade Commission is offering a bounty on Robocallers.  Well, not exactly a bounty, but the FTC is offering a reward for the enterprising soul, or souls, that can figure out a way to combat the infamous robocaller.

The Federal Trade Commission banned automated commercial telemarketing calls in 2009.  However, as most of us can attest, this has not stopped the annoying calls.  To combat this,  the FTC is offer a grand prize of $50,000 for a solution that can successfully block the calls.  The contest opens on October 25, 2012 and has three primary criteria for a winning solution:

1) Does it work?

2) Is it easy to use

3) Can it be rolled out?

Seems fairly straightforward.  The FTC will begin accepting submissions this week, with judging to begin January 17, 2013.  For more information about the contest, visit the FTC’s challenge website.