Netherlands could see ban on telemarketing without prior consent

A proposal has been put forward in the Netherlands that could see telemarketing banned unless people have actively opted in.

On 08 October 2018, state secretary of economic affairs and climate Mona Keijzer sent her consumer agenda to the House of Representatives, including a proposal to prohibit telemarketing without the consumer’s prior consent with the introduction of the e-Privacy Regulation, which has not yet been finalised. Keijzer said that the move would provide better protection than the current telephone preference service – the ‘bel-me-niet-register’, which allows people to opt out of sales calls.

The telemarketing sector, including DDMA (the association for data & direct marketing) and KSF (the federation for customer service), has been consulting with Economic Affairs for more than a year on the introduction of the e-Privacy Regulation. In addition to the telemarketing opt-in versus opt-out, it would also limit how charities could contact donors.

So far, the proposed restrictions have not yet become law, giving the sector time to look further at self-regulation as an alternative.

Goede Doelen Nederland takes the view that charities are in a different position to commercial telemarketing companies, and that charities must be able to continue to appeal to the support of the public, but that this channel must be used responsibly. The conversation with Economic Affairs continues.