Does the GDPR still allow me to send prospecting emails?

TL;DR: Yes, B2B prospecting emails are still allowed under GDPR. What matters is how you do it.

Is B2B prospecting legal under GDPR?

Yes. The GDPR doesn't ban B2B cold emailing. According to the CNIL (France's data protection authority), B2B prospecting is allowed when:

• The contact is professional (not personal)
• The message is relevant to the recipient's role or business
• An easy opt-out is provided (unsubscribe link or reply-to option)

Example: Emailing john.doe@company.com (IT Manager) about enterprise software, with a clear unsubscribe option.

Understanding "legitimate interest" for B2B prospecting

Under GDPR, B2B prospecting relies on legitimate interest as the legal basis for processing personal data. This means you can contact professionals without prior consent, as long as:

The prospecting is targeted and relevant

You're reaching out to someone whose role or business makes your offer genuinely relevant.

Good example: A SaaS company contacts CTOs at tech startups to present a developer tool.

Bad example: A real estate agent emails random IT professionals about apartment sales.

The contact information is professional

Use business email addresses (first.last@company.com), not personal ones (john.doe@gmail.com).

You provide an easy opt-out

Every email must include a simple way to unsubscribe (unsubscribe link, "reply STOP", etc.).

Your interests don't override the recipient's rights

If someone asks to be removed from your list, you must comply immediately.

Key principle: Legitimate interest requires a balance test. Your commercial interest in prospecting must not override the recipient's right to privacy. Targeted, relevant B2B outreach generally passes this test. Mass, irrelevant spam does not.

GDPR obligations when storing contact data

Here's what GDPR actually regulates: how you collect and store personal data.

When you store professional email addresses in a CRM or database, GDPR applies. You must:

• Inform contacts that you hold their data
• Allow them to access their data (right to access)
• Update incorrect data upon request (right to rectification)
• Delete data if they ask (right to erasure)
• Prove lawful collection (e.g., legitimate interest for B2B prospecting)

This is where most enrichment tools create GDPR risks: they rely on purchased, scraped, or contributed databases where consent was never obtained and data subjects can't exercise their rights.

Why Dropcontact eliminates GDPR risks

Dropcontact works differently. We don't collect or store contact databases, which fundamentally changes the GDPR equation.

No database = no data retention obligations

We use real-time algorithms to generate results from minimal input (first name, last name, company). No personal data is stored or reused after processing.

What this means for you:

• No risk of unlawfully collected data
• No obligation to track data sources
• No need to process deletion requests for Dropcontact-generated emails
• Always up-to-date data (no obsolescence issues)

Audited by the CNIL

In 2019, the CNIL (France's strictest data protection authority) conducted a full audit of Dropcontact, including servers, stored data, and source code. We passed with full GDPR compliance validation.

No other B2B email finder has undergone this level of scrutiny.

What if a lead asks about the source of their data?

If a data subject contacts you asking where their email came from, here's how to respond:

Be transparent

Inform them that their professional contact information was processed through Dropcontact, a GDPR-compliant enrichment service that generates results in real time without storing personal data.

Explain your legitimate interest

Clarify why you contacted them (e.g., "Your role as CTO at [Company] made you a relevant contact for our developer tool").

Respect their request

If they want to opt out, remove them from your list immediately and confirm the action.

Direct Dropcontact requests

If they want Dropcontact to stop processing their data in the future, they can contact us at data@dropcontact.io

We'll relay this to you (the data controller) so you don't send future enrichment requests for this person.

Sample response template

Hi [Name],

Thanks for reaching out. Your professional contact information was processed through Dropcontact, a GDPR-compliant service that operates in real time without storing personal data.

I contacted you because [explain legitimate interest, e.g., "your role as Marketing Director at [Company] made you a relevant contact for our marketing automation tool"].

I've removed you from our prospecting list. You won't receive further emails from us.

If you'd like Dropcontact to stop processing your data in the future, you can contact them at data@dropcontact.io

Best regards

Best practices for GDPR-compliant prospecting

1. Target professional contacts only
   Use business email addresses, not personal ones.
2. Make your message relevant
   Tailor outreach to the recipient's role or industry.
3. Always include an easy opt-out
   Unsubscribe link, "reply STOP", or clear opt-out instructions.
4. Keep records of your legitimate interest
   Document why each contact is relevant to your offer.
5. Honor opt-out requests immediately
   Remove contacts from your list as soon as they ask.
6. Use GDPR-compliant enrichment tools
   Avoid services that rely on purchased or scraped databases.

Note: This article provides general guidance on GDPR compliance for B2B prospecting. GDPR compliance can vary based on your specific use case, industry, and jurisdiction. For specific legal questions, consider consulting with a qualified legal advisor.

Related resources

• Why is Dropcontact GDPR-compliant?
• GDPR & B2B Cold Emailing (blog)
• Data Protection Agreement (DPA)
• Dropcontact Privacy Policy

Questions? Contact us at support@dropcontact.io