This article isn’t legal advice; it offers a general compliance framework. We summarize the six issues teams working with local business data run into most often — such as GDPR in the EU, CAN-SPAM/TCPA in the US, and equivalent local data protection and commercial-messaging rules elsewhere.
Separate business data from personal data
A business’s general switchboard number and corporate email address aren’t in the same category as contact information tied to a specific employee’s name. The latter may be treated as personal data and should be handled more carefully.
Purpose, retention, and transparency
Document in writing why you’re collecting the data, use it only for that purpose, and don’t retain it longer than necessary. On first contact, clearly state who you are and how you obtained their contact information.
- Define a specific, legitimate purpose
- Set a retention period and delete records once it expires
- Offer an easy opt-out option in every message
Commercial messaging rules and requests
Commercial email and messaging are typically subject to consent, registration, or opt-out regimes depending on your jurisdiction (e.g., GDPR/ePrivacy in the EU, CAN-SPAM/TCPA in the US). Individuals also generally have the right to request information or deletion — build a process to handle these requests and keep your suppression list current.
Frequently asked questions
Can I call the phone number listed on Maps?
Reaching out for commercial purposes through a business’s own published contact channels is generally acceptable, but you should still follow applicable regulations and honor any do-not-contact requests.
What should I do if I receive a deletion request?
Remove the record from your systems and add it to your suppression list so it isn’t collected again.