The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) completely reshaped how companies collect, store, and process personal data. For email marketers and web developers, the regulation introduced strict requirements regarding consent, user transparency, and data ownership.
The Definition of Explicit Consent
Under GDPR, pre-ticked checkbox agreements are illegal. If you collect emails for a newsletter, the user must actively click the checkbox to give consent. Furthermore, you cannot bundle consent—you cannot force a user to agree to marketing emails just to download a free file or register for an app.
The Right to Be Forgotten
Users have the legal right to request the complete deletion of their data from your servers. This means your unsubscribe flow must be simple, immediate, and permanent. You must delete their email address from all backups, log systems, and third-party databases like CRM platforms.
Ensuring Compliance in Your Applications
To stay compliant, store a detailed log of when and how consent was obtained. Ensure your databases use secure encryption, and never pass user emails in unencrypted URL parameters, keeping your compliance pristine and your users' data secure.