HELSINKI: The government wants to extend the prohibition on marketing mobile phone subscriptions via telephone, said an official press release.
The prohibition originally set for a fixed term is proposed to be extended by three years. The government justifies the extension by the facts that the prohibition is functioning and that misleading sales have decreased. In accordance with the current marketing prohibition, direct marketing of mobile telephone subscriptions to a consumer by telephone is only allowed upon explicit request by the consumer.
The fixed-term basis provides the authorities with an opportunity to revise the prohibition, if needed. Furthermore, the prohibition may become unnecessary in the near future as a result of the development of markets and technology.
The subject of the prohibition on marketing to control sales practices was included in the legislative package on electronic communications, the Information Society Code, as of the beginning of 2015. On May 13, the government submitted its proposal to parliament on continuing the telemarketing prohibition as it is and extending its term until 2018. The amendment is meant to enter into force on July 2.
