Apple will automatically come to unknown texts into the new category in iOS 26, and this causes problems for political groups relying on gifts through unsolicited texts.
Text filtering based on third -party carriers and third -party applications has existed on the iPhone for years. Apple expands this ability and improves a trip with iOS 26, but that could lead to others.
According to a letter of shared PUNCHBOWL NEWSfirst discovered Fiery balliOS 26 could seriously affect the ability of political groups to collect gifts from users. The letter was written by the National Republican senatorial committee, which says that in GOP income can see $ 500 million.
The letter misunderstood that iOS 26 treats unknown callers as spam, which is a separate category of filtering. Instead, it will be considered “unknown” that the user has never interact with with the number or if it is not in their contacts.
This means that the system could certainly lead to that users lack texts – especially less technically sophisticated. Unknown texts that God informs by the user by default, or on the application icon do not store the badge badge.
There are several settings that get well at the moment, but again apply only to those who know they look or care. The letter in his claim was incorrect that Apple’s new feature could lead to missing opportunities for collecting gifts.
Spam versus consent
The biggest problem I accept with a letter is his claim that he needs to add the unsolicited text to be used. These political entities have gone through the solutions of problems that allow laws to constantly text the text and even the carriers to allow this behavior.
Apple’s steps to ensure that users have some common sense and control over their message sending this effort. Estimated revenue of $ 25 million to NRSC is definitely not negligible.
However, the solution is not an Apple problem. Not to mention the investigation shows that many political donation campaigns are too aggressive, using deceptive tactics and relying on older people with the problem of mental health to start in hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Whether these political entities are acting legally is not a debate, but their necessary is certainly. Especially when many texts are mostly Applepts that make people think (insert a political name) directly and asks for $ 20.
NRSC will just have to suck and find a new way to get gifts. One way would be to enable users to log in to a text message and educate them on how to add key numbers to their contact application.
Although Apple is not categorizing political texts like spam, the behavior of texts feels like spam. And while these political entities may not like, I certainly welcome granularity and check the provision of iOS 26.
IOS 26 Changing the application for sending messages
In iOS 26, there are many minor changes that make messages from SMS, RCS and IMESSAGE messages a little easier. There are more categories than just SPAM and unknown, and in the sets are finely tuned controls.
Categories can be easily obtained
In the messages, the right top of the standard “filter” icon shows. Click this to see messages, unknown sender, transactions, promotion, spam and recently deleted.
Podcategory transactions include finance, orders and reminders.
Unlike the Mail categories, users have no way to charge messages again. For example, a message from the twelve south should be under “promotion”, but still appears in “unknown sender”.
Some controls -> Apps -> Messages are available in the settings. Unknown sender has several switches and options.
Unknown sender screens are like things like political texts into the category of unknown sender. It is by default, but can be turned off.
The permitted announcement has four switches – sensitive time, personal, transactions and promotional events. If users want to be announced and show up on the Messages icon for one hour, then switch any or all categories as needed.
So everything will not be lost for NRSC and other political campaigns. Simply educate institutions on how to switch these settings as needed.
Otherwise, it might be a good time to reconsider how to get political gifts outside cold calls and spam unsolicited texts. Although it was needed and worked with previous generations, it probably will not fly over excess weight today.
Apple has the right one to have these filters by default and at least provides switching. Above all, no one was to rely on unsolicited and continuous text messages to finance the political movement.
It’s 2025, get people to sign up for the newsletter. Do not waste time after Apple for a perfectly reasonable function.