Robinson List: what it is, how to sign up and when companies must check it
The "do not disturb" of advertising, explained for consumers and companies
The Robinson List is a free service where anyone can sign up to stop receiving advertising from companies they haven’t given their consent to. It works by channel: phone, postal mail, email and SMS or MMS.
In Spain, it is managed by the Spanish Digital Economy Association (Adigital). It is an “advertising opt-out system”, as the law calls it, and companies that advertise without consent must check it before every campaign.
The name comes from Robinson Crusoe: people who sign up want to stay “isolated” from advertising they didn’t ask for.
What is the Robinson List and what is it for?
It is a shared register of people who don’t want to receive commercial communications. It serves two purposes:
- For consumers: to tell all companies, just once, that they don’t want advertising through a specific channel.
- For companies: to know who they must not send advertising to when they don’t have their consent.
It doesn’t replace other rights. If you want to stop receiving emails from a specific company, you can still use the unsubscribe link in its messages or exercise your right to object with that company.
How to sign up for the Robinson List
- Go to the official website, listarobinson.es, and register for free with your details.
- Choose the channels through which you don’t want to receive advertising: phone, postal mail, email or SMS/MMS.
- If you want to keep receiving advertising from a particular company, add it as an exception.
According to the AEPD, your registration takes effect within three months. You can change the channels or cancel your registration at any time from your account.
Comply with the law and protect your reputation
With Mailrelay, your subscribers join through double opt-in and unsubscribes are handled automatically.
What advertising does it protect you from, and what doesn’t it?
The Robinson List stops advertising from companies you haven’t given your consent to. It doesn’t stop:
- Advertising you have authorized. If you gave your consent to a company, it can keep writing to you even if you’re on the list. To stop receiving it, you have to object to that company.
- Messages that aren’t advertising. An invoice, a shipping notice or a change to the terms of your contract are not commercial communications.
- Those who break the law. Spam senders and fraudulent callers don’t check the list. If this happens to you, you can file a complaint with the AEPD.
Robinson List for companies: when you need to check it
Article 23 of Spain’s Organic Law on Data Protection (LOPDGDD) requires anyone who wants to send direct advertising without the consent of the recipients to check the advertising opt-out systems. For example, when the legal basis is legitimate interest.
- With consent: you don’t need to check it for that person.
- Without consent: you have to check it before the campaign and exclude anyone registered for that channel.
- Validity: each check is valid for one month and per channel. Adigital provides a certificate with the date and the result, which you should keep.
- Cost: checks are paid; the rates are at listarobinson.es/empresas.
| Situation | Do you need to check the Robinson List? |
|---|---|
| You have the person’s consent | No |
| You send advertising without consent (legitimate interest) | Yes, before every campaign |
| You send a message that isn’t advertising (invoice, notice) | No |
| The check is more than a month old | Yes, you have to repeat it |
What about email marketing?
For email, the basic rule is stricter. Spain’s Information Society Services Act (LSSI, article 21) prohibits sending advertising by email or SMS without prior consent. The exception is your customers, if you offer them products similar to those they have already bought from you and they can easily unsubscribe.
That’s why, if you build your list with permission, the Robinson List hardly ever affects you when it comes to email. Where it matters most is in phone calls and postal mail.
What about phone calls?
Since June 29, 2023, Spain’s General Telecommunications Law 11/2022 requires prior consent to make commercial calls, with some exceptions. The AEPD developed this in its Circular 1/2023.
This entry is general information, not legal advice. If you have a specific question, consult a lawyer or the AEPD.
How Mailrelay helps you
Mailrelay doesn’t check the Robinson List for you, but it helps you work only with contacts who have given you permission, which is what makes the check unnecessary for email. All subscriptions go through double opt-in, and each sign-up records the date and the IP address from which it was confirmed.
Every email includes an unsubscribe link and unsubscribes are handled automatically: anyone who unsubscribes won’t receive your campaigns again. With the free account you can send up to 80,000 emails a month to 20,000 contacts.
Send responsible email marketing with Mailrelay
Take care of your subscribers and comply with the law in every campaign you send.
Frequently asked questions about the Robinson List
Is it free to sign up for the Robinson List?
Yes. It’s free for consumers. It’s the companies that check it that pay.
How long does it take to work?
According to the AEPD, your registration takes effect within three months.
Will I still get calls if I’m on the Robinson List?
It can happen with companies you gave your consent to or with those who break the law. In the second case, you can file a complaint with the AEPD.
Does a company have to check it if it has my consent?
No. The check is mandatory when a company advertises without consent.
How often does a company have to check it?
Before every campaign without consent. Each check is valid for one month.