MESSAGING IN UNITED KINGDOM
🇬🇧 WhatsApp messaging rules in United Kingdom.
The rules that matter when you send WhatsApp marketing, sales and service messages to people in United Kingdom, in plain English, checked 28 September 2026.
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Illustrative example. Names and details are made up.
The laws.
- Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 (PECR)
- UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, as amended by the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025
- Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)
THE RULES
What they mean for WhatsApp.
| Rule | What it means for WhatsApp |
|---|---|
| What’s covered | The ICO treats texts and direct messages as “electronic mail”. Treat WhatsApp marketing as covered by PECR. |
| Consent | Marketing to individuals needs consent, unless the soft opt-in applies: you got their details in a sale or negotiation, you’re marketing your own similar products, and you offered an opt-out then and in every message. |
| Charities | Since 5 February 2026, charities can also use a soft opt-in. |
| Identify yourself | Say who you are and give a valid way to opt out in every marketing message. |
| Lawful basis | Under UK GDPR you still need a lawful basis for processing, and must tell people how you use their data. |
| Complaints | From 19 June 2026, people can complain to you directly, and you must acknowledge within 30 days. |
RISK
Enforcement.
Since February 2026, PECR fines can reach £17.5 million or 4% of global turnover.
META
Plus Meta’s rules, everywhere.
- Opt-in: people must agree to receive WhatsApp messages from your business, and the opt-in must name your business.
- Templates: messages you start outside a customer’s 24-hour window must use approved templates.
- Opt-outs: respect requests to stop, made on WhatsApp or anywhere else.
- A human: give people a way to reach a person.
- No sensitive data requests: never ask for full card numbers, bank account numbers or ID numbers in the chat.
IN THE PRODUCT
How ConvoHut helps.
HOW CONVOHUT HELPS
- A compliance review for each market before an automation or campaign goes live, covering consent, an unsubscribe option in the template and your sender details.
- Every contact has a consent status, visible in the inbox next to the conversation.
- Opt-outs stop journeys for that contact and exclude them from future marketing messages.
- Quiet hours by market, so messages aren’t sent in the middle of the night.
- A confirmation step before any campaign is sent, with the Meta cost shown first.
ConvoHut’s checks help you follow the rules. They don’t replace your own legal obligations, and you’re responsible for the consent you collect and the messages you send.
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