Q2 of 2025 sees alarming surge in ATDS robocalls

After a period of decline, robocalls have made a significant comeback in 2025. April witnessed a staggering estimated 5 billion automatic telephone dialing systems (ATDS) robocalls in the U.S., marking a 3% increase from March and the highest monthly volume since August 2023. This surge has raised concerns among consumers, regulators, and businesses alike.

The numbers behind the surge

April 2025 averaged 165 million robocalls per day, translating to approximately 1,910 calls per second. The first four months of 2025 have seen a total of 18.9 billion robocalls, an 11.93% increase compared to the same period in 2024.

Potential causes

Several factors may be contributing to this uptick:

• Regulatory changes: The FCC’s one-to-one consent rule, which aimed to tighten telemarketing regulations, was vacated by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals in early 2025. This decision may have inadvertently opened the door for increased robocall activity.
• Perceived deregulation: The current administration’s stance on deregulation may have led some to believe that enforcement against robocalls would be lax, emboldening bad actors.
• Technological advancements: Robocall systems, including those powered by AI voice technology, have made it easier and cheaper to reach large audiences. While this technology enables responsible companies to efficiently scale their call operations up or down, it also opens the door for misuse – such as aggressive sales tactics or scams targeting vulnerable consumers.  

Implications for consumers and businesses

The resurgence of robocalls poses risks for both consumers and legitimate businesses:

• Consumer trust: An influx of unwanted calls can erode trust in phone communications, making consumers wary of answering calls, even from legitimate businesses.
• Compliance risks: Businesses must ensure they have proper consent mechanisms and language in place if they are using ATDS or AI voice technologies to avoid violating the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).
• Operational challenges: Increased robocall traffic can strain telecommunications infrastructure and customer service operations.

Mitigation strategies

To combat the rise in robocalls, stakeholders can consider the following approaches:

• Enhanced call authentication: Implementing technologies like STIR/SHAKEN can help verify caller identities and reduce spoofed calls.
• Fixing spam labels: Review the phone numbers your company uses to ensure they aren’t being flagged as “Spam Likely” and take steps to remediate caller ID issues.   
• Consumer education: Informing consumers about how to recognize and report robocalls can aid in collective mitigation efforts.
• Regulatory enforcement: Continued vigilance and enforcement by regulatory bodies are essential to deter malicious actors.

Conclusion

The spike in robocalls in April 2025 serves as a stark reminder that the battle against unwanted automated calls is far from over. Collaborative efforts between regulators, businesses, and consumers are crucial to curb this trend and protect the integrity of telecommunication channels.

At ActiveProspect, we are committed to helping you navigate this storm. Our product, TrustedForm, documents consent at the moment of online lead capture and helps businesses stay compliant with evolving regulations. In a year that’s on track to shatter TCPA litigation records, there’s never been a better time to improve and strengthen your compliance competitive advantage.

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