So that means we not only have to detect a non-human caller, we have to detect something that distinguishes an illegal caller from a legal one.  And we can’t do something simple like give out a device to the legal robo-callers that signals “This is a legal robo-call,” because the first thing the scammers will do is buy or steal one of those devices.  I can’t create some secret password to my phone and give it out only to legal robo-callers, because the same thing will happen.  There’s nothing that legal robo-callers could possibly possess that I would trust them to keep out of the hands of scammers.

But wait, I hear you saying, what if the thing the legal robo-caller possesses is identification, like a car license plate?  I have no motive to let my license plates fall into the hands of a criminal, because I can’t drive without plates, and because I don’t want to answer for whatever hijinks someone would get up to while my plates are on his car.  So we issue a different, crytographically secure credential to each legal robo-caller.  Then all I need is a device for my phone that looks up the robo-caller’s “plate number” and blocks the call if that fails.  As a side effect I get caller ID for robo-calls.  This is closer to a solution, at least.  The weak link is the people giving out the credentials, who can be scammed into giving out a good credential to a bad actor, in much the same way Certificate Authorities have been scammed (e.g. DigiNotar, Comodo).  But once discovered, the stolen credential could be revoked instantly.

I don’t see myself spending money on this technology once it’s available, and I don’t kid myself that the phone company will provide it free of charge.  If I’m going to spend some money and some time, I’d rather end up with a technology that gives me control over who calls and who doesn’t.  Then I’ll never again have to hear the perfectly legal words, “Hello, this is Congressman Steve King….”

From what I understand, this new generation of robo-calls (card member services, windows support, etc.) are frustratingly difficult, if not nigh-on impossible, to track-down. The FCC is very aware of these calls and is actively trying to hunt the them down, but it’s been dead-ends within dead-ends.

I hate phones and don’t call anyone, so this system works for me, but it won’t work. Any system that depends on someone doing something correctly EVERY time on EVERY “legit” phonecall won’t work.

The scams don’t typically give you info about the people scamming you.

Unsolicited calls are immediately incredibly expensive, but you can still call your friends.

Strike out, and the number is deactivated for a period of time.  Limited appeals and no refunds. If you stop paying for the locked phone number, you lose it. If anyone stikes out enough times, prosecutors go after them.  Politicians and telcos would not be immune, either.

If there was a politician who really would make political parties and pollsters adhere to the same DNC registry that companies did, that would weigh in heavily to swinging my vote. As it is, in the absence of other factors, I tend to vote away from the person who’s irritated me the most on the phone during the campaign.

Sadly only USAians can enter, or I’d be in with my guaranteed at least 50% score solution: “do nothing”. Full marks on ease of use & roll-out-ability, for sure!

Of course you’d run the risk of annoying your actual human callers.

Now that I think about it, any corporation that makes you navigate an annoying robot menu before connecting you to a human already does this.

Then once you have recordings of incoming calls, cross reference them for matches with technology similar to YouTubes content id system.

Edit: and enforce with huge fines.

So, if you’re not just making stuff up, you’d be able to license the tech on top of receiving the prize.

And I’ll do it FOR FREE!