Reality check: Will CRTC’s new tech to fight spam calls actually work?
Global News
CRTC said Tuesday that telecommunications service providers have begun to use a new technology to help Canadians screen spam calls.
Canada has implemented new technology to help fight spam calls — but will it actually work?
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) said Tuesday that telecommunications service providers will now be required to use the new technology, called STIR/SHAKEN, to flag spam calls.
STIR/SHAKEN labels whether a call made over the internet, also known as a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) call, is from a trusted source.
VoIP calls are known to trick caller ID into showing the caller as legitimate, such as from a government agency. This is known as caller ID spoofing.
Now, users should receive some indication when receiving a call as to whether it is fraudulent or not. How that information is communicated may vary between service providers, CRTC said.
“This new caller ID technology will empower Canadians to determine which calls are legitimate and worth answering, and which need to be treated with caution,” CRTC CEO Ian Scott said in a statement.
“As more providers upgrade their networks, STIR/SHAKEN will undoubtedly reduce spoofing and help Canadians regain peace of mind when answering phone calls.”
The technology was originally meant to be implemented in 2019 but has been delayed until now.