Building a Fax List From Web Scraping – Legal?
Posted: Thu May 29, 2025 5:30 am
Is Building a Fax List via Web Scraping Legal?
1. Legality Depends on Jurisdiction & Website Terms
Many websites prohibit scraping in their Terms of Service (ToS).
Ignoring these terms can lead to civil lawsuits or being blocked.
In some countries (like the U.S.), scraping fax lists publicly available info may be legal, but it's a gray area.
The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) in the U.S. can apply if scraping violates site access rules.
2. Consent for Marketing Is Separate
Even if you legally scrape fax numbers, you still need consent to send marketing faxes.
The Junk Fax Prevention Act (JFPA) requires prior express permission or an established business relationship (EBR).
Sending unsolicited faxes to scraped numbers can lead to steep fines and lawsuits.
3. Privacy & Data Protection Laws
Laws like GDPR (Europe) and CCPA (California) regulate personal data collection.
Fax numbers linked to individuals might be considered personal data, requiring compliance.
Scraping personal data without notice or consent can breach these laws.
4. Ethical Considerations
Scraped lists often contain outdated or inaccurate info.
Recipients may react negatively to unsolicited faxes, hurting your brand.
Best Practices If You Use Web Scraping
Check website ToS before scraping.
Use scraping only for public business contact info (not personal data).
Verify and clean your list thoroughly.
Always obtain prior express consent or ensure an established business relationship before faxing.
Consult with legal counsel to understand risks in your jurisdiction.
Summary
Web scraping fax numbers is a legal gray area and risky for unsolicited fax marketing.
You must be very cautious and compliant with marketing consent laws.
Focus on permission-based list building methods for safer and more effective campaigns.
Need help finding compliant ways to build your fax list or want tools that simplify consent management? I can guide you!
1. Legality Depends on Jurisdiction & Website Terms
Many websites prohibit scraping in their Terms of Service (ToS).
Ignoring these terms can lead to civil lawsuits or being blocked.
In some countries (like the U.S.), scraping fax lists publicly available info may be legal, but it's a gray area.
The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) in the U.S. can apply if scraping violates site access rules.
2. Consent for Marketing Is Separate
Even if you legally scrape fax numbers, you still need consent to send marketing faxes.
The Junk Fax Prevention Act (JFPA) requires prior express permission or an established business relationship (EBR).
Sending unsolicited faxes to scraped numbers can lead to steep fines and lawsuits.
3. Privacy & Data Protection Laws
Laws like GDPR (Europe) and CCPA (California) regulate personal data collection.
Fax numbers linked to individuals might be considered personal data, requiring compliance.
Scraping personal data without notice or consent can breach these laws.
4. Ethical Considerations
Scraped lists often contain outdated or inaccurate info.
Recipients may react negatively to unsolicited faxes, hurting your brand.
Best Practices If You Use Web Scraping
Check website ToS before scraping.
Use scraping only for public business contact info (not personal data).
Verify and clean your list thoroughly.
Always obtain prior express consent or ensure an established business relationship before faxing.
Consult with legal counsel to understand risks in your jurisdiction.
Summary
Web scraping fax numbers is a legal gray area and risky for unsolicited fax marketing.
You must be very cautious and compliant with marketing consent laws.
Focus on permission-based list building methods for safer and more effective campaigns.
Need help finding compliant ways to build your fax list or want tools that simplify consent management? I can guide you!