Insights

2025 Somos Summit Recap: Trust in Action

Nov 10, 2025

The 2025 Somos Summit brought together a veritable all-star team of leaders, regulators and innovators from across industries to explore one shared mission – building trust through technology, collaboration and transformation. 

The action began on day one with a series of Power Sessions that dove into fraud, regulation and technology from every angle. Experts traced the global reach of scams, debated new enforcement strategies and demonstrated how AI is reshaping things for the good and bad actors alike. From combating cross-border fraud to enforcing STIR/SHAKEN compliance, each session built on the last to reveal a single truth: The fight against scams can no longer be reactive. It must be collaborative, data-driven and human at its core. 

Day two shifted action to the main stage, where Somos’ President & CEO, Gina Perini, opened with a powerful treatise on trust as the foundation of modern communication and took a deep dive into the mechanics of Somos’ Trust Framework for phone number Right-to-Use – a series of practices and standards to build authentication into every stage of the call path. From there, the day unfolded further through deep conversations on policy, technology and innovation – from Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner Anna Gomez’s insights on transparency and enforcement to Brett Johnson’s gripping keynote on human psychology in cybercrime. Later panels showcased the ecosystem in motion: financial institutions, carriers, regulators and partners uniting around shared intelligence, mobile network data and real-world impacts. Together, the sessions painted a clear vision for the horizon of communications. 

For those who were unable to join us at the 2025 Somos Summit, we’ve summarized the essential insights here. 

Key Takeaways 

1. Trust Is the Goal 
   Every conversation, no matter the participants, seemed to circle back to a common idea: connection only works when it’s trusted. As Gina Perini said, “The phone number isn’t just how we connect; it’s the universal key for building trust in the digital world.” Across telecom, finance and tech, trust has become both the goal and the strategy. That’s why initiatives like the Trust Framework for phone number Right-to-Use are so crucial. 
    
2. Fraud Has Evolved – So Must We 
   From insurance scams in 300 BC to AI-powered phishing, fraud is perpetually, almost sickeningly adaptable – and they’re aimed at our weakest points. Gautam Hazari of XConnect reminded attendees, “These phishing messages are not just accurate or personal – they make us emotional, they hijack our instincts.” Combating next-gen fraud now demands education, real-time data, identity assurance and global collaboration. 
    
3. Technology Enables, People Achieve 
   As Somos’ Bill LaRuffa put it, “Technology’s role is not as the hero, but as the enabler.” From RealNumber® DNO to RealAgent® data validation, the real wins came from partnerships that turned tools into outcomes – measurable reductions in fraud, fewer tracebacks and stronger customer confidence. 
    
4. Enforcement Still Matters 
   Peter Hyun of Rainfall Strategies LLC and Kevin Rupy of Wiley Rein confirmed that better rules and enforcement – especially the kind with teeth – still protect consumers. “Swift and surgical beats slow and retrospective,” Peter said, describing rapid action against deepfake robocalls. Even as court decisions reshape authority, accountability remains the backbone of trust. 
    
5. AI Cuts Both Ways 
   AI is now a vital arrow in the quivers of powers both deception and defense. As scam-baiter Kitboga noted, concerning his own army of AI-powered, scam-fighting bots, “They think they’re talking to a victim, but they’re really feeding the machine that’s learning how to stop them.” Responsible AI – transparent, ethical and fast – is becoming one of the industry’s most crucial tools. 
    
6. Collaboration Means Strength 
   From the Power Sessions to the closing panels, the message was consistent: shared intelligence beats isolation. “Business moves at the speed of trust,” said Delroy McLean of Proven Wealth Limited. From cross-industry fraud coalitions to unified identity frameworks, progress depends on partnership. 
    
7. Policy Shapes Protection
   FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez underscored how policy and connectivity go hand in hand. “We expect companies to comply with the rules,” she said. “After multiple notices, we finally said, you’re off the list.” Clear enforcement standards and modernized funding will keep the ecosystem accountable and accessible for all. 
    
8. The Human Factor Remains Central 
   Nearly every panel – from fraud prevention to policy – circled back to empathy. As Somos’ Jaime Zetterstrom reminded the audience, “You are not alone. We are not alone. Together, we can make a lasting transformation.” Trust may be built by better technology and smarter standards, but it’s sustained by people. 

Where Trust Leads, Progress Follows 

The 2025 Somos Summit was, among many other things, a collective call to action. Over two days, attendees saw how Trust, Technology & Transformation converge to shape a safer, smarter communications ecosystem. From regulators setting bold standards to innovators building the tools to meet them, the message was clear: lasting change happens when we move together. Trust is the way forward. It’s also the destination.

Stay tuned for access to On-Demand Recordings from this year's Summit!