IrelandI keep getting spam emails. How do I make them stop?
You can stop spam emails by withdrawing consent, using the unsubscribe link, and reporting persistent senders to the Data Protection Commission.
What the Law Says
Under Irish law, sending unsolicited marketing emails is tightly controlled. The Data Protection Act 2018 gives effect to the GDPR and sets out clear rules about electronic marketing.
If you receive marketing emails from a company in Ireland or targeting people in Ireland, they must have your clear, specific consent (‘opt-in’) before sending them — unless they’re emailing existing customers about similar products/services and gave you a chance to opt out when collecting your email address.
Every marketing email must include a valid, working ‘unsubscribe’ mechanism — and the sender must honour your opt-out request without delay.
Section 38 of the Data Protection Act 2018 specifically prohibits sending electronic mail for direct marketing purposes unless the recipient has given prior consent, or meets the ‘soft opt-in’ exception (e.g., you bought something from them recently and they’re promoting similar goods).
Statutory TextA person shall not send electronic mail for the purposes of direct marketing unless the recipient has previously notified the person that he or she consents to the receipt of such mail.
— Data Protection Act 2018, s. 38 — Prohibition on sending electronic mail for direct marketing purposes
What to Do
Click the ‘unsubscribe’ link at the bottom of any marketing email — it must work and be processed within 72 hours.
If no unsubscribe link exists or it doesn’t work, reply with ‘UNSUBSCRIBE’ — this is legally sufficient notice.
For repeated or malicious spam, report it to the Data Protection Commission (www.dataprotection.ie).
Check your email account settings to enable spam filters and block known senders.
Never reply to spam emails (except to unsubscribe) or click suspicious links — this confirms your address is active.
Sources
Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.