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Article written by Haim Ravia, Dotan Hammer and Adi Shoval
The Israeli legislature (the “Knesset”) enacted an amendment to the Consumer Protection Law according to which the Consumer Protection Authority will establish a registry in which consumers can indicate that they wish to opt-out of receiving telemarketing calls. Businesses will not be allowed to contact consumers who will have listed their names and phone numbers in the registry for telemarketing purposes. Also, businesses will be prohibited from contacting consumers to convince them to de-list themselves from the registry.
Nonetheless, the law would allow businesses to call consumers even if their names are listed in the registry concerning an existing, ongoing transaction with them. The law also provides that where a consumer gives their consent to receive telemarketing communications from a business, the consent remains valid for only one year, and the consumer may also withdraw the consent at any time. The business bears the burden of proof to demonstrate it has obtained the necessary consent.
Businesses that violate the amended law will be subject to fines ranging from NIS 25,000 (approximately $7,500) for small businesses to NIS 45,000 (approximately $13,500) for large corporations. Egregious violations will attract greater fines. The law will take effect in about eighteen months.
CLICK HERE to read the amendment to the Consumer Protection Law (in Hebrew).
