When building and managing an email marketing list, collecting and storing user data responsibly is essential, not just for deliverability but also for legal compliance. One key piece of information often logged during signups is the user’s IP address.
While not universally mandated, storing the IP address can be critical for proving consent under privacy laws like the GDPR or Canada’s CASL.
Especially in jurisdictions like Germany, keeping detailed consent records—including the IP address and timestamp—has become standard practice to protect against legal disputes. For email marketers, understanding these regional requirements helps ensure both compliance and trust.
There is no universal requirement to save the IP address of a user signing up for an email list, but some countries and regions either explicitly require it or strongly recommend it as part of demonstrating compliance with data protection and consent laws.
Here’s an overview of where and why it might be required or advisable:
European Union (EU) / EEA – GDPR
- Requirement: Not explicitly required by GDPR, but strongly recommended to prove valid consent (Article 7).
- Best practice: Store IP address, timestamp, and consent wording (double opt-in logs).
- Countries: All EU and EEA countries (Germany, France, Netherlands, Sweden, etc.)
- Special case: In Germany, storing the IP address as part of consent logs is common practice and often expected in court.
United Kingdom – UK GDPR
- Requirement: Similar to the EU GDPR.
- Best practice: Log IP address and timestamp as part of the consent record.
Canada – CASL (Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation)
- Requirement: Businesses must be able to prove consent, but storing the IP address is not explicitly required.
- Best practice: Store IP and timestamp as part of audit logs to prove valid consent.
United States – CAN-SPAM Act
- Requirement: Does not require opt-in consent or IP address logging.
- Note: IP storage may be helpful for legal defense in case of abuse, but it is not required.
- State-level laws: Privacy laws like the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) don’t mandate IP logging for email consent.
Australia – Spam Act 2003
- Requirement: Consent must be inferred or express, and proof of consent is required.
- Best practice: Store IP and timestamp.
Switzerland
- Similar to GDPR. Storing IP addresses is a best practice for proving valid consent.
Summary Table
| Region / Country | Required to Save IP? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| EU / EEA | Not explicitly, but expected | GDPR compliance and proof of consent |
| UK | Not explicitly, but expected | UK GDPR |
| Germany | Yes (effectively) | Courts expect IP logging for consent proof |
| Canada | No, but recommended | CASL compliance |
| USA | No | CAN-SPAM does not require opt-in |
| Australia | No, but recommended | Proof of consent is required |
| Switzerland | Not explicitly, but expected | GDPR-like laws |
If you’re operating internationally or want to stay on the safe side, logging the IP address, timestamp, and consent wording at signup is a best practice and may be crucial in case of legal challenges.