The text of the Bill at First Reading is here. John Ibbitson’s take on this is here. And the apologists are already at it, of course (last two links not perma-, alas).
I particularly like the reference in the last post to "established links that businesses have with their existing customers" as an apologia for calls to check up on "expired subscriptions, warn of lost warranty coverage". This is all it takes? Some nexus, no matter how tenuous, and someone can call during dinner to try to sell me the extended warranty coverage I already declined two years earlier, or try to sell me a magazine subscription I let lapse? Some utterly ephemeral connection based on a passing convenience, and there is an "established link" that allows someone to try to pitch the latest brand of dish soap to me during dessert? Ewww ….
And of course, the focus on the pain and suffering (it will be horrible, with rending of garments and gnashing of teeth) that businesses will experience when prevented from exercising their ‘god-given right’ to sell you, oh, I don’t know, expanded cable service at the moment those mashed potatoes are poised to pass your lips. That is not the point. We already have the pitch coming at us 7x24x365 through every sensory organ we have. We’re entitled to our privacy. That’s the point.
This is simple. If we don’t already have it, don’t call us to try to convince us to buy it. We can make that decision all on our lonesome, thanks.
Um, news flash, this one gets under my skin …..