Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003

The Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003 is a law in the United Kingdom which made it unlawful to, amongst other things, transmit an automated recorded message for direct marketing purposes via a telephone, without prior consent of the subscriber.[1] One of the key tenets of this legislation upholds that it is unlawful to send someone direct marketing if they have not specifically granted permission (via an opt-in agreement) in the absence of a previous relationship between the parties.For this reason the regulations offer increased consumer protection from direct marketing.The Information Commissioner's Office has responsibility for the enforcement of unsolicited e-mails and considers complaints about breaches.A breach of an enforcement notice is a criminal offence subject to a fine of up to £500,000 depending on the circumstances.
Parliament of the United KingdomCitationSI 2003Stephen TimmsCommencementEuropean Communities Act 1972TransposesePrivacy Directivelegislation.gov.ukUnited Kingdomdirect marketingEU directivePrivacy and Electronic Communications Directive 2002consumer protectionEuropean UnionInformation Commissioner's Officeunsolicited e-mailslaw in the United Kingdom