Syracuse (WSYR-TV) -- We've all received those annoying automated calls. At the moment "Robo-calls" are banned from ringing your cell phone, but a new law could change that.
Automated phone calls are annoying, especially at dinner time, but now they could be sent to your cell phone.
Research associate Remy DeCausemaker says, "From a technological, feasible standpoint, the information is widely available."
DeCausemaker has created a similar system at the Rochester Institute for Technology for automated text messages and knows how easy it would be for companies to find your personal information.
"Most folks have a Facebook account. If they're not careful, they can share their cell phone data, email data, and then folks can easily build tools that can send them messages automatically," DeCausemaker said.
On Friday, a communications subcommittee of the house discussed letting businesses contact your cell phone for "informational purposes," such as flight cancellations and fraud alerts. Senator Charles Schumer told NewsChannel 9 he plans on fighting the idea.
"I would leave it up to each customer. In other words, they can say: 'I'll just take robo-calls about flight delays; I'll just take robo-calls about fishing rod sales.' It should be up to the customer completely," Schumer said.
People we spoke with said they would hate picking up their phone to find out it’s an advertisement.
"I think people should have the opportunity to opt out if they choose," one person said.
Another said, "It's really going to be overwhelming, blowing up my phone. It's going to be a huge issue especially when you're expecting important calls, and you get cluttered with these."
The bill would modify the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. There could be a Do-Not-Call Registry like there is for home-phones now
If the bill is passed, you would be opened up to receiving automated calls from businesses, but it could also make it easier to receive alerts from 911 or school districts.
