Editing National Do Not Call List (section)

===Technological shortcomings===

A notable shortcoming of the Canadian implementation of the do-not-call list is that the list of numbers is given to telemarketers in plain text, in the form of a simple spreadsheet or CSV file without any protection or traceability. Technologies for securing personal data are readily available, as shown by Australia's Do Not Call Register, which "is a secure database where you can list your numbers to avoid receiving unsolicited telemarketing calls and marketing faxes."<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.donotcall.gov.au/
| title = Do Not Call Register
| accessdate = 14 July 2010
| author = [Australian communications and Media authority]
}}</ref> In contrast to the CRTC's uncontrolled distribution of telephone number lists, the Australian system consists of a "List Washing Service",<ref>{{cite web
 |url          = http://www.acma.gov.au/webwr/_assets/main/lib100844/makingtherightcall1-apr07.pdf
 |title        = Making the Right Call
 |accessdate   = 14 July 2010
 |website        = www.acma.gov.au
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20091022035537/http://www.acma.gov.au/webwr/_assets/main/lib100844/makingtherightcall1-apr07.pdf
 |archive-date = 22 October 2009
 |url-status     = dead
}}</ref> precisely as proposed by the minority opinion which was disregarded by the CRTC.

On 3 July 2007, in Telecom Decision CRTC 2007-47,<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2007/dt2007-47.htm
| title = Telecom Decision CRTC 2007-47
| accessdate = 17 February 2009
| website  =www.crtc.gc.ca
}}</ref>
the CRTC disregarded the non-consensus report from the DNCL Operations Working Group, which had strongly recommended against allowing telemarketers to download unmarked, untraceable copies of the do-not-call list. With the aim of protecting the confidentiality of cell and unlisted numbers, the non-consensus report had instead advocated a Query/Response methodology, wherein telemarketers would be able to query only the do-not-call status of numbers they already had in their possession. Although the CRTC had rejected the Query/Response methodology, citing grounds of operational cost and complexity, a one-number-at-a-time Query/Response turned out to be so operationally simple and inexpensive that it is provided by the CRTC, free of charge, without restriction, to anyone who cares to use it.<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.lnnte-dncl.gc.ca/verins-chkreg-eng
| title = National Do Not Call List
| accessdate = 17 February 2009
| website  =www.crtc.gc.ca
}}</ref> Other jurisdictions such as the USA provide similar Query/Response functions to checklists of small sets of numbers simultaneously, also free of charge.<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.donotcall.gov/confirm/conf.aspx
| title = National Do Not Call Registry
| accessdate = 17 February 2009
| website=www.fcc.gov/cgb/donotcall
}}</ref> Jurisdictions such as Australia protect subscriber privacy, precisely as envisioned by the minority report, by keeping the list in the form of a secure database, and providing only a "List Washing Service".

The CRTC's decision to expire registrations is regarded by citizens' rights groups as a technical shortcoming that adds unnecessary operational cost and complexity to the system, as well as limiting registrants' freedom to express their wishes.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/transcripts/2006/tt0503.htm
| title = Transcript of CRTC PN2006-4 Public Proceeding
| accessdate = 14 July 2010
| website  =www.crtc.gc.ca
}}</ref> On 17 June 2008, the USA made registrations permanent until the number is disconnected or reassigned, citing "...benefits to the public and to [[consumer privacy]] interests...".<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-08-147A1.pdf
| title = REPORT AND ORDER FCC 08-147 Rules and Regulations Implementing the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991
| accessdate = 17 February 2009
|website=www.fcc.gov/cgb/donotcall
}}</ref>

Another possibility to prevent using the plain text list as a list of people to call is to provide [[honeypot (computing)|honeypot]] numbers, unique to each telemarketer{{Citation needed|date=May 2010}}. If a telemarketer, or anyone he has given the list to, then calls one of the honeypot numbers, stiff penalties can be applied to the telemarketer.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Balduzzi, Marco, Payas Gupta, Lion Gu, Debin Gao, and Mustaque Ahamad|date=2016|title=Mobipot: Understanding mobile telephony threats with honeycards|journal=Proceedings of the 11th ACM on Asia Conference on Computer and Communications Security}}</ref> If the originating number of a violating call is either foreign or disguised, the CRTC could apply the penalties to the telco which delivered the call to the subscriber's line since that telco acted as an agent of the telemarketer by delivering the call.{{Citation needed|date=May 2009}}. There is no indication from the CRTC whether honeypots have been implemented as part of the DNCL.