GDPR Compliance for Lead Generation: What You Need to Know

Data privacy laws don't have to kill your lead generation. Here's how to stay compliant while still growing your business.

The Basics

What is GDPR?

The General Data Protection Regulation is an EU law that governs how personal data can be collected, processed, and stored. It applies to:

• Any company based in the EU
• Any company that processes data of EU residents
• Any company that offers goods/services to EU residents

Penalties: Up to €20 million or 4% of global revenue—whichever is higher.

What is CCPA?

The California Consumer Privacy Act is California's privacy law. Similar principles, different specifics:

• Applies to businesses serving California residents
• Revenue thresholds determine applicability
• Right to know, delete, and opt-out of sale

Does This Apply to B2B?

Yes. Business emails like john@company.com are still personal data because they identify an individual.

The Legal Basis for B2B Outreach

GDPR requires a "legal basis" for processing data. For B2B lead generation, you typically rely on:

Legitimate Interest

You have a legitimate interest in:

• Growing your business
• Reaching potential customers
• Building partnerships

But it must be balanced against the individual's rights and expectations.

When Legitimate Interest Works

• Data is publicly available (company websites, directories)
• The outreach is relevant to their role
• You provide easy opt-out
• You don't process sensitive data

When It Doesn't Work

• Purchasing lists of dubious origin
• Mass spamming unrelated contacts
• Processing data on protected characteristics
• Ignoring opt-out requests

Practical Compliance Checklist

Before Scraping

• [ ] Only scrape publicly available data
• [ ] Document your legitimate interest
• [ ] Check if the source prohibits scraping
• [ ] Verify you're not collecting sensitive data

During Processing

• [ ] Validate emails to reduce bounce
• [ ] Remove duplicates and errors
• [ ] Don't store data longer than needed
• [ ] Secure data with encryption

During Outreach

• [ ] Include your company identity
• [ ] Explain how you got their data
• [ ] Provide clear unsubscribe option
• [ ] Respond to opt-outs within 48 hours

After Outreach

• [ ] Honor deletion requests
• [ ] Keep records of consent/opt-out
• [ ] Regularly clean old data
• [ ] Document your compliance processes

How Scrappy Helps

We've built GDPR compliance into the platform:

Data Minimization

We only collect what you need:

• Business email addresses
• Professional phone numbers
• Company information
• Public social profiles

We never collect:

• Home addresses
• Personal phone numbers
• Health or financial data
• Protected characteristics

Right to Access

Any person can request their data:

• Export all data we hold about them
• See how it's been processed
• Know where it came from

Scrappy provides these reports automatically.

Right to Deletion

Users can request deletion:

• 30-day grace period to reconsider
• Complete erasure after confirmation
• Audit trail for compliance

Data Retention

We don't keep data forever:

• Leads auto-delete after 12 months
• You can set shorter retention periods
• Verification cache clears after 30 days

Consent Management

Track consent for every lead:

• When consent was given/withdrawn
• What they consented to
• Full audit history

Sample Privacy Language

Include this in your outreach:

You're receiving this email because you're listed as [role] at [company] on [source]. If you'd prefer not to hear from us, simply reply with "unsubscribe" and we'll remove you immediately. You can also request a copy or deletion of any data we hold by contacting [privacy@yourcompany.com].

Common Questions

Can I scrape LinkedIn?

LinkedIn's ToS prohibits scraping. While legal battles are ongoing, it's generally safer to:

• Use LinkedIn Sales Navigator (their official tool)
• Scrape public company websites instead
• Use directories that allow data collection

What about bought lists?

Be very careful. Ask:

• Where did this data come from?
• Do individuals know their data is being sold?
• Is there documented consent?
• When was it last verified?

If you can't answer these questions, don't use the list.

Do I need explicit consent?

For B2B cold outreach based on legitimate interest, no. But you still need:

• Transparency about data collection
• Clear opt-out mechanisms
• Proper documentation

What if someone complains?

1. Respond promptly (within 72 hours)
2. Honor their request immediately
3. Document the interaction
4. Review your processes

Most complaints are resolved with quick, respectful action.

Red Flags to Avoid

🚩 "Unlimited" email lists for sale 🚩 No information about data origin 🚩 Lists of personal email addresses 🚩 Data on sensitive categories 🚩 Promises to bypass regulations 🚩 No opt-out mechanism provided

Best Practices Summary

Do This:

✅ Scrape publicly available business data ✅ Document your legitimate interest ✅ Validate emails before outreach ✅ Include clear opt-out in every message ✅ Honor deletion requests immediately ✅ Keep data only as long as needed ✅ Encrypt and secure all data

Don't Do This:

❌ Buy lists from unknown sources ❌ Ignore opt-out requests ❌ Store data indefinitely ❌ Collect personal (non-business) data ❌ Hide your identity in outreach ❌ Scrape login-protected areas

The Bottom Line

GDPR isn't anti-business—it's anti-abuse. Companies that:

• Respect privacy
• Are transparent
• Provide value

...can still do effective B2B lead generation.

Scrappy is built with compliance at its core. Use it responsibly, follow the guidelines above, and you'll stay on the right side of the law.

When in doubt, consult a privacy attorney for your specific situation.