Antitrust Law Daily Wrap Up, CONSUMER PROTECTION NEWS: FTC offering $50K in prizes for robocall combat contests, (Mar 4, 2015)

The FTC is launching two robocall contests that will challenge the public to create a crowd-sourced information system, or “honeypot,” that can be used by the government, private and academic partners to lure and analyze robocalls.

The FTC’s first contest, Robocalls: Humanity Strikes Back, asks contestants to construct a technical solution for consumers that identify unwanted robocalls received on landlines or cell phones, and block and forward those calls to a honeypot. The qualifying phase will run through June 15, 2015.

The agency will also be hosting a new data analytic contest, DetectaRobo, on June 6, 2015—the National Day of Civic Hacking. This competition challenges contestants to analyze data from a robocall honeypot to improve honeypot design. Specifically, participants will be provided with data from an existing honeypot and must create an algorithm that identifies which calls in the data are likely robocalls.

“We’re using many strategies to fight robocalls, including law enforcement, education, and crowd-sourced innovation,” stated FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection Director Jessica Rich. “Following the success of our previous robocall challenges, we’re once again seeking expertise from the public to put a new tool in consumers’ hands, and to develop technology to help law enforcement and other partners investigate these calls.”

Up to five contestants from Robocalls: Humanity Strikes Back will be chosen from the qualifying phase to move to the final round, competing for a top prize of $25,000 at DEF CON in Las Vegas. Two honorable mentions may receive $10,500 each, and the remaining finalists may be eligible for $2,000 each for a total of $50,000 in cash prizes.

The deadline for submitting entries for Robocalls: Humanity Strikes Back is June 15, 2015 for the qualifying phase. Contestants interested in participating in DetectaRobo are encouraged to join a hackathon on June 6 or participate in the FTC’s contest virtually. Registration will kick off on June 6, 2015, and will be limited to the first 50 contestants.

News: ConsumerProtection FederalTradeCommissionNews