use are subject to strict legal requirements
Posted: Wed May 21, 2025 4:38 am
As a member of the European Union, Portugal's data protection landscape is primarily governed by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (Regulation (EU) 2016/679). Additionally, Portugal has its own national law, Law no. 58/2019, which ensures the execution of the GDPR in Portugal. These laws establish stringent rules for the processing of personal data, including phone numbers:
Definition of Personal Data: Both the GDPR and Portuguese law unequivocally define phone numbers as "personal data." This means their collection, storage, and
Lawfulness, Fairness, and Transparency: All processing of personal data must adhere to these core principles. Individuals must be clearly informed about how their phone numbers will be used, and processing must have a valid legal basis (e.g., consent, contract, legitimate interest).
Prior, Explicit Consent: For most marketing and commercial prospecting activities targeting individuals (consumers), prior, explicit, and informed consent from the individual is a strict requirement. belize phone number library This is a crucial deterrent to the creation and use of unsolicited phone number lists. Consent must be freely given, specific, informed, and unambiguous.
Data Subject Rights: Individuals in Portugal (and the EU) have extensive rights over their personal data, including the right to access, rectify, erase ("right to be forgotten"), and object to the processing of their data, particularly for direct marketing.
Comissão Nacional de Proteção de Dados (CNPD): The CNPD is Portugal's independent data protection authority. It is responsible for enforcing the GDPR and Portuguese data protection laws, investigating complaints, and imposing significant fines for non-compliance (up to €20 million or 4% of annual global revenue for serious violations).
These comprehensive legal provisions make the public dissemination of a comprehensive phone number directory for personal use fundamentally illegal and impractical.
Telecommunications and Anti-Spam Regulations in Portugal:
Portugal's telecommunications market includes major operators such as MEO (Altice Portugal), Vodafone Portugal, and NOS. While these companies maintain vast subscriber databases for their internal operations, they are legally bound by stringent privacy agreements and the GDPR. They do not provide comprehensive public directories of individual phone numbers.
Definition of Personal Data: Both the GDPR and Portuguese law unequivocally define phone numbers as "personal data." This means their collection, storage, and
Lawfulness, Fairness, and Transparency: All processing of personal data must adhere to these core principles. Individuals must be clearly informed about how their phone numbers will be used, and processing must have a valid legal basis (e.g., consent, contract, legitimate interest).
Prior, Explicit Consent: For most marketing and commercial prospecting activities targeting individuals (consumers), prior, explicit, and informed consent from the individual is a strict requirement. belize phone number library This is a crucial deterrent to the creation and use of unsolicited phone number lists. Consent must be freely given, specific, informed, and unambiguous.
Data Subject Rights: Individuals in Portugal (and the EU) have extensive rights over their personal data, including the right to access, rectify, erase ("right to be forgotten"), and object to the processing of their data, particularly for direct marketing.
Comissão Nacional de Proteção de Dados (CNPD): The CNPD is Portugal's independent data protection authority. It is responsible for enforcing the GDPR and Portuguese data protection laws, investigating complaints, and imposing significant fines for non-compliance (up to €20 million or 4% of annual global revenue for serious violations).
These comprehensive legal provisions make the public dissemination of a comprehensive phone number directory for personal use fundamentally illegal and impractical.
Telecommunications and Anti-Spam Regulations in Portugal:
Portugal's telecommunications market includes major operators such as MEO (Altice Portugal), Vodafone Portugal, and NOS. While these companies maintain vast subscriber databases for their internal operations, they are legally bound by stringent privacy agreements and the GDPR. They do not provide comprehensive public directories of individual phone numbers.