When managing and using phone number data, understanding the rules and regulations across different countries and regions is essential. Phone number data is considered personal information in many jurisdictions, subject to strict privacy, consent, and usage laws. Ignoring these rules can lead to legal penalties and damage to your brand reputation. Here’s an overview of key phone number data rules across major regions to help you stay compliant.
United States: TCPA and CCPA
In the U.S., the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) governs how businesses can use phone numbers for marketing and outreach. It requires prior express consent before sending automated calls or texts and mandates honoring opt-out requests promptly. Violations of TCPA can result in significant fines.
The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) also impacts phone number data, especially for California residents. It grants consumers the right to know what personal data is collected, request deletion, and opt out of the sale of their data. Businesses must update privacy policies and processes accordingly.
European Union: GDPR
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) applies to all EU member states and sets rigorous standards for personal data protection—including phone numbers. Consent must be freely given, specific, informed, and unambiguous. Data subjects have rights such as access, rectification, and erasure.
Businesses collecting phone number data from EU residents must implement clear opt-in mechanisms and maintain records of consent. Cross-border data transfers are tightly special database regulated, and non-compliance can lead to heavy fines.
Canada: CASL
Canada’s Canada Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL) regulates the sending of commercial electronic messages (CEMs), including texts sent to phone numbers. It requires express google sheets crm or implied consent and clear identification of the sender. CASL also mandates easy unsubscribe mechanisms.
CASL is considered one of the strictest anti-spam laws globally and applies to any message sent to or from Canadian numbers.
Australia: Privacy Act and Do Not Call Register
Australia’s Privacy Act governs the collection and use of personal information like phone numbers, requiring entities to notify individuals about how their data is used and obtain consent.
The Do Not Call Register enables consumers to opt out of unsolicited marketing calls and messages. Businesses must check numbers against the register and respect b2b phone list consumer preferences to avoid penalties.
Other Regions
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United Kingdom: Post-Brexit, the UK applies the UK GDPR and PECR (Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations), which are similar to the EU rules, focusing on consent and marketing communication regulations.
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Asia-Pacific: Countries like Japan, South Korea, and Singapore have their own data protection laws (e.g., APPI in Japan, PDPA in Singapore) that require consent and restrict unsolicited communications.