Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR)
Also known as: PECR, UK PECR
PECR is the UK law that covers email, SMS, calls, and other digital marketing. It sets clear rules for consent, marketing messages, cookies, and other tracking.
PECR is the UK rulebook for how you contact people through email, SMS, calls, and cookies. It sits alongside GDPR but focuses on electronic marketing. It tells you when you need consent and what kind of messages you can send. In short, it defines what is allowed in digital outreach so you do not cross privacy lines.
PECR matters because it shapes how you build and use your email list. If you follow it, you send fewer unwanted messages and see better engagement. Inbox providers trust you more, which helps your deliverability and keeps your domain in good shape. It also protects your brand from complaints and fines.
A simple way to stay onside is to ask clearly before you add someone to a list and keep proof of how they said yes. Use plain language on your forms so people know what they are signing up for. Make it easy to unsubscribe in every message and act on those requests quickly. This keeps your list clean and your audiences more likely to open and click.
Related Terms
Email Marketing
Email marketing is the practice of sending emails to groups of people to build relationships and drive actions like sales or sign ups.
Learn more →Marketing Automation Platform (MAP)(MAP)
Software that helps you send the right messages to people based on what they do. It automates emails and other marketing tasks so you do not have to do them by hand.
Learn more →Consent(Permission)
Clear permission someone gives you to send them email. It means they understand what they signed up for and have agreed to get messages from you.
Learn more →Tracking
Tracking is how your email tool logs opens, clicks, and sales that come from your emails. It helps you see what people do after they receive a message so you can improve future campaigns.
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