Telemarketing in Jordan: Prioritizing Consent and Data Privacy in a Developing Regulatory Landscape

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Telemarketing remains a potential tool for businesses seeking to engage with consumers in Jordan. However, as of May 20, 2025, conducting these activities ethically and legally requires a careful consideration of the existing legal framework, evolving data protection norms, and the importance of respecting consumer privacy. While Jordan's regulations specific to telemarketing may be less detailed than in some other regions, fundamental principles of data protection and consumer rights are increasingly relevant.

The Existing Legal and Regulatory Context:

As of May 20, 2025, the key legal and regulatory instruments that have implications for telemarketing in Jordan include:

The Constitution of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan: Guarantees personal freedoms, which can be interpreted to include a degree of privacy and protection from unwanted intrusions.
The Penal Code: Contains provisions related to kenya mobile phone number list harassment and the misuse of communication technologies, which could potentially be invoked in cases of overly aggressive or intrusive telemarketing.
The Telecommunications Law: Governs the telecommunications sector and the operation of networks. The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) oversees this sector and may issue directives relevant to commercial communications, although specific telemarketing regulations might not be explicitly detailed. Businesses should consult the TRC for any applicable guidelines.
The Electronic Transactions Law: Addresses the legal framework for electronic communications and transactions, which could have implications for telemarketing conducted via SMS or other electronic means.
Anticipated Personal Data Protection Law: As of this date, Jordan is still in the process of finalizing and enacting a comprehensive Personal Data Protection Law. While the exact details and enforcement timeline are yet to be fully determined, it is widely expected that this law will incorporate principles similar to international data protection standards like GDPR. This will likely place significant emphasis on obtaining consent for the processing of personal data, including mobile phone numbers used for marketing. Businesses should closely monitor official government announcements regarding the enactment of this law.
Key Considerations for Telemarketing in the Current Environment:

Given the existing legal framework and the anticipated Personal Data Protection Law:

Importance of Consent: Even in the absence of a fully enacted data protection law, obtaining clear and informed consent before engaging in telemarketing is an ethical best practice and aligns with evolving global standards. This means individuals should willingly agree to receive marketing calls from your organization.
Respect for Privacy: Businesses should respect individuals' privacy by avoiding calls at unreasonable hours, limiting the frequency of contact, and honoring any requests to be placed on a "Do Not Call" list (even if internally managed).
Transparency: When making telemarketing calls, clearly identify yourself and the organization you represent at the beginning of the call. Be transparent about the purpose of the call.
Accuracy of Data: Ensure that the mobile phone numbers you are using are accurate and up-to-date to minimize wasted effort and avoid contacting wrong numbers.
Data Security: Implement reasonable security measures to protect any lists of mobile phone numbers you possess from unauthorized access or disclosure. This will become even more critical with the enactment of the Personal Data Protection Law.
Compliance with Telecommunications Regulations: Adhere to any existing regulations or guidelines issued by the TRC regarding the use of telecommunication networks for commercial purposes.
Ethical Marketing Practices: Avoid misleading or aggressive sales tactics. Ensure that any claims made during telemarketing calls are truthful and can be substantiated.
Regarding Mobile Phone Number Lists:

Purchasing Lists is Highly Problematic and Will Likely Be Non-Compliant with the Anticipated Law: Buying mobile phone number lists for telemarketing in Jordan is a practice that carries significant risks and is strongly discouraged, especially in anticipation of the Personal Data Protection Law. It is highly improbable that the individuals on such lists have provided the informed consent that will likely be required under the new law for your specific organization to contact them for marketing purposes. Using purchased lists could lead to:
Violation of the Forthcoming Data Protection Law: Processing personal data without a lawful basis, such as consent, will likely be a key violation under the new law, potentially leading to penalties.
Ethical Concerns and Negative Public Perception: Contacting individuals who have not consented to receive marketing calls can damage your company's reputation and lead to complaints.
Low Effectiveness: Individuals who did not willingly provide their numbers are less likely to be receptive to marketing messages.
Focus on Building Contact Lists Ethically and with Consent: The most sustainable and legally sound approach to telemarketing in Jordan is to build contact lists through transparent and consent-driven methods:
Opt-in Mechanisms: Implement clear and unambiguous opt-in forms on your website, social media, physical sign-up sheets, or during customer interactions, explicitly stating that the provided mobile number may be used for marketing communications and obtaining affirmative consent.
Leveraging Existing Customer Relationships (with Consent): If you have existing customers, ensure you have obtained their clear consent to contact them for marketing purposes.
Lead Generation Campaigns with Explicit Consent: Run marketing campaigns specifically designed to generate leads where individuals willingly provide their contact information with the clear understanding that they may be contacted for telemarketing.
Importance of Consent Management: Once the Personal Data Protection Law is in effect, maintaining detailed records of how and when consent was obtained will be crucial for demonstrating compliance. You should also have processes in place for individuals to easily withdraw their consent and ensure that such requests are promptly honored.
Conclusion:

As of May 20, 2025, while Jordan may not have specific, comprehensive telemarketing legislation, businesses engaging in this activity must operate with a strong emphasis on ethical practices and an awareness of the evolving data protection landscape. The anticipated Personal Data Protection Law is likely to make consent a central requirement for processing personal data for marketing purposes. Purchasing mobile phone number lists is a risky and unsustainable practice that will likely be non-compliant with the upcoming regulations. The focus should be on building contact lists through transparent, consent-based methods to ensure both legal compliance and positive customer engagement in Jordan. Businesses should closely monitor the official enactment and details of the Personal Data Protection Law to adapt their telemarketing strategies accordingly.