With iOS 26, Apple plans to filter texts from “unknown senders,” a change that could reduce deliverability of millions of legitimate, compliant political messages affecting politicians, nonprofits, and 527s organizations from reaching their voters.
At RoboCent, we stand with campaigns, nonprofits, and outreach professionals across the country in denouncing this change for what it is: a significant barrier to the compliant civic engagement essential for a functioning democracy.
Why It Matters:
- iPhone users make up half the U.S. electorate
- Critical election updates – deadlines, polling info, town halls – could go unseen
- Campaigns lose their most effective, regulated, and trusted communication tool
- Nonprofits, schools, and healthcare providers get swept up too
Political Texting Is Not Spam – It’s Regulated, Verified, and Accountable
RoboCent has helped shape this industry into one of the most heavily regulated forms of communication in the country:
- FEC IDs & public disclosure are required for most senders
- Carrier-level identity verification through The Campaign Registry (TCR)
- Government-issued ID checks via Campaign Verify
- Strict opt-out handling and enforcement
- Message-level traceability and compliance logging
We support Apple’s mission to stop real spam, such as phishing scams and fraud, from hitting the inbox. But political texting isn’t that. It’s rare, targeted, consent-based communication that gives voters direct access to candidates, issues, and resources they care about.
RoboCent will continue to fight for a voter’s right to be informed and for campaigns to reach them legally and transparently.
Companies shouldn’t stand in the way of politicians connecting with voters.
