Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), purchasing email lists for marketing is functionally illegal in most scenarios because consent must be .
The legality of buying email lists depends heavily on and how the list is ultimately used . While purchasing a list is technically legal in the United States, it is highly restricted or functionally illegal to use for marketing in Canada and the European Union due to strict consent requirements. buying email lists legal
: Guidance from the CRTC indicates that consent typically does not transfer when a list is sold as a standalone asset. Therefore, using a purchased list often violates CASL because the sender lacks the required prior consent. 3. European Union & UK: GDPR and PECR : Guidance from the CRTC indicates that consent
: A list broker's generic consent (e.g., "sharing with partners") rarely meets the GDPR threshold for the specific buyer to send marketing materials. European Union & UK: GDPR and PECR :
: Each separate email in violation of the CAN-SPAM Act is subject to penalties of up to $53,088 .
: The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) allows residents to opt out of the sale of their personal data, adding complexity for businesses targeting California-based contacts. 2. Canada: CASL
: To send emails legally to a purchased list, you must provide a clear opt-out mechanism, include a valid physical postal address, and ensure headers and subject lines are not deceptive.