PECR – The Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/2426) – Regulation 19 – Use of automated calling systems

Regulations

Regulation 19Use of automated calling systems

(1) A person shall neither transmit, nor instigate the transmission of, communications comprising recorded matter for direct marketing purposes by means of an automated calling [^F1or communication] system except in the circumstances referred to in paragraph (2).

(2) [^F2 Those circumstances are where—

(a)
the called line is that of a subscriber who has previously notified the caller that for the time being he consents to such communications being sent by, or at the instigation of, the caller on that line; and
(b)
the person transmitting, or instigating the transmission of, such communications—
- (i)
  does not prevent presentation of the identity of the calling line on the called line; or
- (ii)
  presents the identity of a line on which he can be contacted.]

(3) A subscriber shall not permit his line to be used in contravention of paragraph (1).

(4) For the purposes of this regulation, an automated calling system is a system which is capable of—

(a)
automatically initiating a sequence of calls to more than one destination in accordance with instructions stored in that system; and
(b)
transmitting sounds which are not live speech for reception by persons at some or all of the destinations so called.

Annotations

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in reg. 19(1) inserted (26.5.2011) by The Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/1208), regs. 1(1), 8
F2 Reg. 19(2) substituted (16.5.2016) by The Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) (Amendment) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/524), regs. 1, 2(2)

https://pecr.digiphile.law/article/article-19.html

Text as at 19 September 2026.

This is an unofficial convenience version of the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003 (PECR). It is presented “as is” without guarantee of accuracy, completeness or reliability. See the source text for the official version. This site was last updated in September 2026.