Is cold email legal?

The legality of cold email depends on where you're sending, who you're sending to, and how you obtained their information.

United States (CAN-SPAM): Commercial email is permitted without prior consent, but must include accurate sender information, honest subject lines, physical address, and working opt-out mechanism. Deceptive practices are prohibited.

European Union (GDPR + ePrivacy): Generally requires consent for marketing to individuals. Some member states allow B2B email to corporate addresses under soft opt-in or legitimate interest, but processing personal data requires legal basis.

Canada (CASL): Requires express or implied consent before sending commercial electronic messages. One of the strictest frameworks globally.

UK (PECR + GDPR): Corporate subscribers (business addresses) can receive unsolicited B2B marketing. Individual subscribers require consent.

Legal doesn't mean wise. Complying with regulations is the minimum standard, not a guarantee of deliverability or effectiveness. Mailbox providers filter based on recipient behavior, not legal compliance.