There were some recent fixes to it, but we've allowed our phone system to be completely overrun by scams and spam. So we don't even have a trusted line of comm

There were some recent fixes to it, but we've allowed our phone system to be completely overrun by scams and spam. So we don't even have a trusted line of communication between government and citizens other than mail, which is too slow. Most people have had to just block all unknown numbers. The only reason for it was because offering spam blocking service was a cash cow for phone companies, so hey lobbied against any effective governance to stop it (finally some was passed in late 2019). If people have an interest in something, the government is barely responsive, it took years and years. Special interests that can pay to lobby for it get their way right away unless there is pretty huge backlash.