Bell to reveal AI call-blocking methods to NDA-signing intervenors

The CRTC has approved BCE Inc.’s request to make available to interveners the previously redacted methods behind its plan to use artificial intelligence in a proposed 90-day call blocking test. In July, Bell had asked the CRTC to allow it to test out an AI and machine learning technology for blocking, after the regulator had directed telecom companies to come up with a system for blocking calls from numbers that don’t correspond to “established numbering plans.” Responding to submissions from Bell that were heavily redacted, several intervenors -- including the Canadian chapter of the Internet Society and the Canadian Network Operators Consortium (CNOC) -- objected to Bell experimenting on calls that neither originated nor terminated on its network, but merely passed through it. “Given the scope outlined above, it is clear Bell will be collecting data from all calls, not just calls from Bell customers, which raises serious privacy concerns,” the Internet Society argued in its October Intervention on Bell’s request. Bell then replied and said that most of the objections were based on a misunderstanding of its methods, and offered to show the methods to those objecting, given they sign a non-disclosure agreement. The intervenors, Bell said in October, have “raised objections based upon factual inaccuracies, or worse, sheer speculation.” Friday, the CRTC said Bell could go ahead with its offer to reveal the methods to anyone who had intervened before Oct. 14, and given they sign an NDA. The company must do so by Jan. 24. In its decision, the regulator wrote that it believed Bell’s argument that information about how the proposed system would work “could be used to undermine Bell Canada’s call blocking proposal to the benefit of persons seeking to make illegitimate calls.” The “harm likely to result from the disclosure of such information on the public record outweighs the public interest in disclosure,” the CRTC wrote, rejecting arguments from some intervenors that there was a significant public interest in making the information publicly available. Bell issued a press release Friday, saying that "industry has made solid progress in combatting these scam calls, and Bell's innovative new AI process would further dramatically reduce the number that get through to customers.” It added: “We're ready to take the next step, and while we welcome today's decision by the CRTC to move the process forward, we eagerly await its approval to launch our trial."

Bell to reveal AI call-blocking methods to NDA-signing intervenors

Brief | January 17, 2020

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Bell to reveal AI call-blocking methods to NDA-signing intervenors

Brief | January 17, 2020

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