ctrlweb

The Canadian anti-spam legislation (CASL)

Federal law governing the practices of sending and receiving commercial emails.

Emilie Arculeo

Directrice générale

Publication date

28 February 2023

Category

Best Practices

The Canadian Anti-Spam Law (CASL), which came into effect in 2014, aims to protect citizens against spam, unsolicited emails, malware, and deceptive online practices. Ctrlweb informs you of the requirements that must be applied in your communications.



> Information


Who is affected by the Canadian Anti-Spam Law (CASL)?

The CASL applies to any sending of commercial emails, whether they are advertisements, promotions, or communications intended to sell a product or service. The entities affected are therefore businesses promoting or selling products or services on their platforms or in-store.

> Requirements


The measures of the Anti-Spam Law (CASL)

To comply with the Canadian Anti-Spam Law, businesses must obtain explicit consent from the user before sending commercial emails. Communications must include an unsubscribe option from the email list. Recipients must also be informed of how their personal information will be used.

> Consequences


Violation of the law

The CASL provides for significant fines for companies that do not comply with these requirements. Fines can reach up to 10 million dollars for companies and up to 1 million dollars for individuals.


> It is your turn!


The practices to implement

It is therefore essential to implement good practices in email marketing. In summary, companies and individuals promoting products or services must obtain explicit consent from their subscribers before sending them commercial emails, and include a clear and accessible unsubscribe link in each communication.