AliExpress and silent audio fingerprinting: what the finding means for online tracking
A recent investigation into AliExpress is a useful reminder that online tracking is not limited to cookies or visible consent…
PECR, Cookies & Electronic Marketing
Practical PECR and ePrivacy guidance for compliant email, SMS, telephone marketing, cookies and online tracking. Understand consent, the soft opt-in, TPS rules and enforcement developments affecting UK marketing and digital teams. Start with our explanation of the PECR soft opt-in, review the WordPress cookie compliance guide, or train your team with the PECR and ePrivacy for Marketers course.
ICO fines Thermotech and Jacksons Marketing £370,000 for nuisance calls to TPS numbers
On 8 July 2026, the ICO fined Thermotech Wall and Loft Surveys Ltd £240,000 and Jacksons Marketing Ltd £130,000 after…
When exactly can UK marketers use the soft opt-in?
Unsolicited email and SMS to people based in the UK “individual subscribers” normally needs explicit consent under UK ePrivacy/PECR electronic…
ICO fines Energy Prices Direct £160,000 for 700,000 unsolicited marketing calls
On 20 May 2026, the Information Commissioner’s Office said it had fined Energy Prices Direct Limited £160,000 after the company…
Why some UK news websites can now ask readers to accept cookies or pay
Why some UK publishers can now use consent-or-pay banners, what the ICO changed on 23 January 2025, and what managers…
ICO Updates Cookie Consent Rules Under the Data (Use and Access) Act — What Organisations Need to Do Now
The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 creates five new PECR cookie consent exemptions from February 2026. What your organisation…
£300,000 ICO Penalty for Illegal Automated Marketing Calls: Home Improvement Marketing Ltd Case Analysis
The ICO fined Home Improvement Marketing Ltd £300,000 for making 2.4 million illegal automated marketing calls. Analysis of the penalty…
Does WordPress Use Cookies? A Complete Guide to Cookie Compliance
In light of data protection laws like GDPR and the ePrivacy Regulations (PECR) you may be concerned about whether your…
Royal Mail fined £20,000 under PECR for marketing automation gone wrong
This case tells us that it is important to continually review the potential impact of human error or technical error…
What the marketing team at Virgin Media got wrong about PECR
The ICO’s recent enforcement action against Virgin Media shows us that some marketers are still failing to understand the ICO’s…
Facebook to update cookie consent controls on Facebook & Instagram in Europe
Facebook announced via their newsroom on Thursday (23rd September 2021) that they will be changing their cookie consent controls within…
Most ironic PECR fine yet as firm selling nuisance call blocker fined under TPS rules
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), in the United Kingdom, has fined Yes Consumer Solutions Limited (YCSL) £170,000 for making 188,493…
GDPR & Google Analytics 4: What you need to know
Switching to Google Analytics 4 gives marketers & site managers a wide range benefits.
ICO fines protein e-commerce company Muscle Foods Limited for sending millions of marketing messages without valid consent
The ICO’s investigation found that Muscle Food’s had contravened Regulation 22 of PECR.
ICO fines “Digital Growth Experts Ltd” £60,000 for sending thousands of nuisance marketing texts during coronavirus pandemic
During their investigation the ICO found that Digital Growth Experts Ltd had breached regulations 22 and 23 of PECR.
The most common cookie banner mistakes and how to fix them
Is your cookie banner breaking the law? Probably. Most website owners will remember the rush many years ago, to comply…