"Impostor texts" and other campaign issues with peer-to-peer texting

Voters are quickly becoming accustomed to the barrage of conversational, sometimes annoying and mostly unregulated text messages sent by political campaigns, often asking whether they can “count on your vote” while offering quick reminders on elections and initiatives. Peer-to-peer texting platforms can be a useful political tactic. They allow campaigns to get in touch with tens of millions of people, and the method was partially pioneered by Sen Bernie Sanders’ (I-VT) campaign. But the federal government isn’t sure how to regulate them, potentially opening up texting to unaccountable money and suspicious texts. Campaigns, political action groups, grassroots groups and party organizations might send well over 100 million text messages this midterm cycle. “The problem with outdated laws is that unscrupulous people are going to use the loopholes,” said Gigi Sohn, Benton senior fellow and former senior adviser to former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler. "The FCC has to put some strong rules around peer-to-peer texting, and I think the responsible companies will welcome them.”