Update to FCC’s SMS Opt-Out Keywords

In February 2024, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) published a final rule to strengthen consumers' ability to stop robocalls and robotexts. Parts of this new rule addresses SMS opt out messages and will take effect on April 11, 2025. 

What’s changing?

By default, Twilio’s default SMS Stop Filtering service currently handles standard English-language reply messages such as STOP, UNSUBSCRIBE, END, QUIT, STOPALL or CANCEL for US and non US Toll-Free and Long Code SMS messages, in accordance with industry standards.  Starting May 14th, Twilio will add “REVOKE” and  “OPTOUT” to this list in the default SMS Stop Filtering service. If the consumer responds with language outside of the specified keywords: STOP, UNSUBSCRIBE, END, QUIT, STOPALL, REVOKE, OPTOUT or CANCEL, then Twilio will NOT block further messages to that consumer.

What does this mean for you?

Twilio, by default, handles standard English-language reply messages such as STOP, UNSUBSCRIBE, END, QUIT, STOPALL or CANCEL for Toll-Free and Long Code numbers, in accordance with industry standards. Starting May 14, 2025, Twilio will add REVOKE, and OPTOUT as additional opt-out keywords. If the end user wants to add REVOKE and OPTOUT before May 14, 2025, then the Customer can enable this through Twilio’s Advanced Opt Out service.

Important: 

• Twilio doesn’t support spaces in opt-out keywords at this time; therefore we will be supporting “OPTOUT” but not “OPT OUT”

• Twilio does not provide API access for adding “REVOKE” and “OPTOUT” keywords to Advanced Opt-Out. Therefore, customers wishing to add these new opt-out keywords, must do so via the Console. 

What should you do?

Twilio advises that you/your company consult your own legal counsel to review the specific details of these rules in order to determine how these rules may impact your business.  Twilio offers its default and advanced SMS opt out services as tools for its customers to better serve their end users, but any legal compliance decisions must be made exclusively by you/the customer.