Is a Text Message a “Call”? Depends What State You’re Standing In.
The TCPA’s Do-Not-Call private right of action, §227(c)(5), was written for phone calls, but courts are still split on whether it covers SMS. This interactive tracker shows you exactly where every state and federal circuit stands, updated as new rulings come down.
One statute. Fifty different answers. Whether a text message qualifies as a “call” under TCPA §227(c)(5) is one of the most consequential and unsettled questions in outbound compliance today. Some circuits say texts are calls. Others say they aren’t. Several haven’t ruled at all. For any team running SMS or voice campaigns across state lines, that patchwork isn’t a technicality, it’s litigation exposure. Gryphon AI built this tracker so legal, compliance, and marketing teams can see the current state of the law in seconds, not hours of research.
How It Works
- Click any state on the map to see its current classification: texts are calls, texts aren’t calls, split authority, or no ruling yet.
- Filter by status to isolate every state in a given category at once.
- Drill into circuit-level detail to read the controlling cases behind each ruling, with links to full opinions.
- Check back as it updates because this tracker will refreshed as new federal decisions are issued, so your compliance posture doesn’t go stale.
See where your states stand. Explore the interactive tracker now!
Want this level of jurisdictional intelligence built into your live outreach, not just your research? See how Gryphon ONE applies real-time TCPA, DNC, and state-mandate governance to every call and text before it goes out. Talk with an expert today →