The Problem with Consent and Data Sourcing

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General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the EU: The GDPR is a comprehensive data privacy law with a strong emphasis on consent. It dictates that personal data (including phone numbers) must be collected lawfully, fairly, and transparently, and for specified, explicit purposes. Buying a list where individuals haven't given explicit, informed consent for your specific use is a direct violation, carrying significant fines (up to 20 million Euros or 4% of global annual turnover, whichever is higher).

CAN-SPAM Act in the US (for emails, but principles apply): While phone number library primarily for email, the spirit of the CAN-SPAM Act — prohibiting misleading information, requiring clear identification, and providing an opt-out mechanism — reflects broader consumer protection principles that should be considered when dealing with any purchased contact data.

California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in California, US: Similar to GDPR, the CCPA grants California residents significant rights over their personal information, including the right to know what data is collected, to delete it, and to opt-out of its sale or sharing. If a purchased list contains data of California residents, you become subject to CCPA's stringent requirements.


The fundamental issue with purchased phone number lists is the lack of verifiable consent. Reputable marketing practices rely on individuals opting in to receive communications. When you buy a list, you inherit the previous owner's (often dubious) methods of data collection.