Dutch Chamber of Commerce Shields Entrepreneurs’ Phone Numbers to Combat Unsolicited Sales Calls
Amsterdam, Netherlands – The Dutch Chamber of Commerce (KvK) will begin shieldingthe telephone numbers of entrepreneurs in its national business registry starting Wednesday, September 25th, in a bid to combat the rampant abuse of this information for unsolicited sales calls.This move, driven by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, aims to protect the privacy of entrepreneurs and create a fairer business environment.
The decision comes after years ofcomplaints from self-employed individuals and sole proprietorships who have been subjected to relentless harassment by telemarketers. Despite a 2021 law prohibiting unsolicited telephone sales, many entrepreneurs continued to receive unwanted calls, often during business hours,disrupting their work and causing frustration.
With this measure, we are combating the unwanted solicitation of entrepreneurs by telephone via their registration in the Trade Register, said KvK Board Chair Greet Prins. I am pleased that we can now realize this shielding,and it appears to be necessary. Self-employed persons in particular are still being harassed by telephone salespeople.
The KvK’s decision to shield phone numbers is seen as a proactive measure, anticipating changes in the Trade Register Act that are being implemented to address the abuse of publicly available information. In recent years, theKvK has taken steps to protect entrepreneurs’ privacy, including expanding the ability to shield addresses to counter threats. This year, the organization is also removing fax machine numbers from the Trade Register.
The move to shield phone numbers is not entirely new. In 2018, the KvK removed telephone numbers of self-employedindividuals and sole proprietorships from its online address database. However, a change in the law was needed to provide further protection and prevent the misuse of this information.
Minister Dirk Beljaarts of Economic Affairs emphasized the importance of balancing transparency with privacy in the Trade Register. A modern and future-proof Trade Registerrequires both openness and transparency, because as an entrepreneur and consumer you need to know with whom you are doing business, and privacy, to protect the personal privacy of every entrepreneur as best as possible, Beljaarts stated.
This measure is seen as a significant step towards creating a more equitable business environment forentrepreneurs in the Netherlands. By shielding their phone numbers, entrepreneurs can focus on their work without the constant disruption of unwanted sales calls. This, in turn, can lead to increased productivity and a more positive business experience.
The KvK’s initiative has been met with positive reactions from entrepreneurs and business organizations. The DutchFederation of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MKB-Nederland) praised the move, stating that it will provide much-needed relief to entrepreneurs who have been struggling with unwanted calls.
This development highlights the growing importance of data privacy and the need for organizations to take proactive measures to protect sensitive information. The KvK’sdecision to shield entrepreneurs’ phone numbers sets a precedent for other organizations to consider similar measures to safeguard the privacy of individuals and create a fairer and more secure digital environment.
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