Seventh Circuit: Text Messages Are Not Telephone Calls - Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC
Seventh Circuit ruled that text messages are not 'telephone calls' under the TCPA, potentially reducing liability for text-based marketing.
Aforeworn detected this change in the Telemarketing & TCPA Compliance space on August 5, 2026 and published this briefing so affected operators are forewarned rather than caught off guard. It is rated Medium urgency. Contact centers, lead-gen/affiliates, SMS marketers, debt/insurance dialers using text messaging for telemarketing. should confirm how it applies to their specific situation before acting. There is a time constraint attached: No immediate deadline specified; assess and adjust as needed.. Acting after that point can mean penalties, a lapsed licence, or lost eligibility — exactly the kind of surprise Aforeworn exists to prevent. Aforeworn monitors Telemarketing & TCPA Compliance continuously and turns every detected change into a plain-English briefing like this one, so you always know first. Forewarned is forearmed.
What changed
The Seventh Circuit's ruling clarifies that text messages are not considered 'telephone calls' under the TCPA, which may affect the interpretation of consent requirements and liability for text messaging.
Who it affects
Contact centers, lead-gen/affiliates, SMS marketers, debt/insurance dialers using text messaging for telemarketing.
What you must do
Review current text messaging practices and consent mechanisms to align with the ruling, and monitor for potential regulatory or judicial developments.
Deadline
No immediate deadline specified; assess and adjust as needed.
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