There is often some confusion about PECR and where it fits with GDPR, and indeed whether it applies to B2B marketing.
PECR (The Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations) runs alongside GDPR, and gives people specific privacy rights in relation to electronic communications.
GDPR does not replace PECR therefore if you are direct marketing to businesses or individuals then you must comply with both PECR and GDPR.
PECR applies to you if you market by phone, email, fax or text (it also applies if you use cookies or similar on your website).
Yes, even though there are different rules for marketing to 'companies' and marketing to 'individuals' PECR still applies to B2B direct marketing. Our data lists contain B2B contacts only - we do not supply B2C/consumer data. However, it is important to note that with respect to the regulations sole traders and partnerships are classed as 'individuals'.
The following table is an excerpt from the ICO (Information Commissioner's Office) website showing a simplified but useful guide to the marketing rules:
Method of communication | Individual consumers (plus sole traders and partnerships) |
Business-to-business (companies and corporate bodies) |
Live calls |
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Emails (or texts) |
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More information is available from the ICO website at the following link: https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-pecr/what-are-pecr/
Click here for our GDPR compliance statement