Telecommunications Act (Telekommunikationsgesetz - TKG): This act governs telecommunications services and includes provisions related to direct marketing via electronic communications. It reinforces the principle that unsolicited commercial communications (including calls) generally require prior consent. Germany has a "Do Not Call" (DNC) list, and reputable B2B data providers typically screen against these lists.
Implications for Accessing and Using Phone Numbers:
Consent is Paramount: For unsolicited direct marketing (e.g., cold calls or SMS) to individuals, explicit, informed, and unambiguous consent from the individual is almost always required. This consent must be freely given, specific, and capable of being withdrawn at any time.
Legitimate Interest (B2B): For business-to-business (B2B) contact, using publicly available corporate phone numbers for relevant business communications might, in some cases, fall dominican republic phone number library under "legitimate interest" as defined by GDPR. However, strict conditions apply, including a balancing test to ensure the data subject's rights are not overridden, and recipients must still have an easy and clear opt-out mechanism.
No Bulk Purchase of Personal Lists: Buying or obtaining large lists of personal phone numbers from third parties without verifiable consent trails is highly risky and almost certainly illegal under GDPR and German law.
Transparency and Opt-Out: Any communication must clearly identify your organization, explain how the number was obtained (if not directly provided by the individual), and offer a straightforward way to opt out of future contact. Compliance with the German DNC list is essential.