On this page you’ll find all the guidance and information you need to support your direct marketing activities, use cookies or similar technologies, and provide electronic communication services to the public
A step-by-step guide for organisations looking to carry out direct marketing. This guide is aimed at small businesses, but is suitable for any organisation wanting a brief overview of the rules surrounding direct marketing.
How to lawfully send electronic marketing messages by phone, email or text, use cookies or similar technologies, or provide electronic communications to the public.
A simple guide to the rules on sending direct marketing by phone call, electronic mail (email and text), fax and post.
This guidance sets out what you need to consider and the actions you need to take when you want to carry out direct marketing activities.
How PECR applies to making live direct marketing calls.
How PECR applies to electronic mail marketing (including emails and text messages).
Definitions of cookies and similar technologies, the rules that apply when using them when operating an online service such as a website or mobile app, and how the UK GDPR applies to cookies.
How to lawfully send marketing to other businesses.
Guidance for organisations using marketing services of data brokers.
Guidance for public authorities on when public sector promotions count as direct marketing.
Guidance for the regulated private sector (eg finance, utilities, communications) to help decide when a regulatory communication message might count as direct marketing.
How to apply the principles of data protection during political campaigning, how to profile people fairly, how to carry out direct marketing and research lawfully and how to protect information when campaigning online.
Step-by-step guidance through the process of using information for direct marketing purposes.
Find out which lawful basis might be right one to use when sending marketing by phone, post, email or text, and what the PECR requirement is.
Assess your business in the area of direct marketing in line with PECR and data protection legislation.
Recordings of ICO staff training on the Privacy and Electronic Communication Regulations (PECR), available for you to reuse.
Read the impact assessment report for our direct marketing guidance.
Read the summary of responses from our public consultation.