Telecom Operators Clash Over Vivo's Spam Blocker at Brazil's Anatel
A dispute has erupted between Brazilian telecom operators regarding Vivo's "Vivo Anti-spam" service, which automatically blocks unwanted calls on new mobile lines. Vivo claims the service identifies and blocks massive and fraudulent calls before they reach customers, thereby protecting them. However, rival operators, including TIM, Adyl Telecom, 3corp Technology, Net2Phone Brasil, Agera Telecomunicações, Ateky Internet, and Ágil Telecom, have filed formal complaints with the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel). These companies allege that Vivo's system is indiscriminately blocking legitimate calls, including those from healthcare services to patients, public service agencies, and even numbers authenticated by the "Origem Verificada" system, which uses STIR/SHAKEN technology.
Anatel is currently analyzing the complaints, aiming to find a balance between industry needs and consumer welfare. Eduardo Tude, president of consultancy Teleco, explained that no anti-spam system is perfect and that Vivo cannot block legitimate calls. Adyl Telecom reported over 16,000 interrupted calls since early June, affecting hospitals and public bodies. 3corp Technology also filed a complaint regarding blocked calls to the municipality of Araçatuba, which were essential for public services like health and security. While 3corp initially found no viable solution, Vivo later released the numbers after discussions. Adyl Telecom also managed to unblock most numbers after contacting Vivo's wholesale channel. Vivo, which launched the service in November 2024 after a trial with 700,000 users, states its anti-spam operates on two levels: call authentication and origin number profiling. The company asserts it only blocks massive, unidentified calls and is actively combating "spoofing" from other operators, while customers can request analysis or disable the service.
This dispute highlights the inherent tension between combating unwanted automated calls and ensuring the unimpeded flow of legitimate communication. The "Vivo Anti-spam" service, while well-intentioned, illustrates a common challenge in digital filtering: the difficulty in perfectly distinguishing between malicious and benign traffic. The broad impact on essential services like healthcare and public administration suggests that the algorithms employed may lack the necessary nuance or that the "Origem Verificada" system's authentication is not being adequately respected. Anatel's role is crucial in establishing clear, verifiable criteria for call blocking that protect consumers without unduly hindering legitimate business and public service operations. Future solutions may require more sophisticated, AI-driven approaches that can adapt to evolving "spoofing" tactics while minimizing false positives, potentially involving greater transparency from operators on their blocking methodologies and dispute resolution processes.
AI-generated to prompt reflection — not editorial opinion, not advice, not a statement of fact. How this works.
