The funniest tweets and jokes as email marketers get desperate over GDPR
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The chances are your email inbox is currently clogged with increasingly desperate messages from every company you've ever contacted - and some you probably haven't.
That's because GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), the European Union's update to its privacy laws, kicks in tomorrow (Friday).
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Hide AdWith the threat of supersized fines for data breaches, companies have been hurriedly pumping out countless emails to their customers with subject lines like "our privacy policy has changed", "please stay in touch" and "last chance to stay in the know".
This onslaught of digital desperation has led to a lot of frustration - but it's also proven to be an unlikely source of humour on Twitter.
Some pointed out the absurdity of what they would soon be missing out on:
In tragic news, I have declined GDPR consent to the company which has been trying to flog me an upmarket swimming pool for the last 5 years. During which time, I have lived in a second floor flat.
— Andrew Brooks (@taxbod) May 22, 2018
A scene from Airplane was the perfect visual metaphor for this week:
me deleting GDPR emails pic.twitter.com/UMyAluyAue
— jonno (@jonnohopkins) May 21, 2018
Love Actually got the GDPR treatment too:
Lot of films aren’t GDPR compliant, actually. pic.twitter.com/sXkynSBWRy
— Ian B (@TheAdmiral) May 21, 2018
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Hide AdAn Italian butcher decided to enact GDPR in real life:
"WARNING. In our butcher's shop we might ask your name and remember your meat-related preferences. If you are worried about this, please enter the shop while shouting 'I DO NOT AGREE!', and we will henceforth pretend we don't know you."#GDPR HT @PhRoose cc @bobnease pic.twitter.com/sDhveLiBqj
— Koenfucius (@koenfucius) May 19, 2018
Rage Against the Machine fans were surprised the LA rock band were not somehow exempt:
Even Rage Against The Machine has to abide by GDPR. pic.twitter.com/XY7qdToo46
— Gareth Milner (@mrgarethm) May 23, 2018
Even Cher was forced to update her privacy policy:
just got a GDPR compliance email from cher pic.twitter.com/diepH3c1IR
— jon hendren (@fart) May 23, 2018
The desperation was palpable:
My entire inbox is beginning to feel like the ramblings of a desperate ex-boyfriend #GDPR pic.twitter.com/3sFe5B09LC
— Sarah O'Connor (@sarahoconnor_) May 23, 2018
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Hide AdThe subject line of my email inbox increasingly reads like a scorned lover: 'I'll miss you', 'Please don't go', 'It'll be sad to lose you', 'Please stay in touch', 'Let's stay friends'. I'm just waiting for the email headed, 'I've burned all your books you bastard.' #GDPR
— Kerry William Purcell (@Kerrypurcell) May 21, 2018
Some subject lines took it even further:
GDPR emails are by the day sounding more and more like the world’s going to end pic.twitter.com/qUTylfJry7
— Jane Merrick (@janemerrick23) May 21, 2018
We can confirm that mums do not need to update their Ts and Cs:
My mum is leaving it awfully close to the GDPR deadline to ask if I want to opt in to receive her emails, calls and texts.
— Sharon O'Dea (@sharonodea) May 15, 2018
Some picked up on the general sentiment of the emails: DO YOU STILL WANT TO GET OUR EMAILS AFTER GDPR TAKES EFFECT?
DO YOU STILL WANT TO GET MY EMAILS AFTER GDPR TAKES EFFECT pic.twitter.com/BuchzIh1zB
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Hide Ad— Declan Cashin-Chalamet-Porowski-B.Jordan (@Tweet_Dec) May 23, 2018
DO YOU STILL WANT TO GET MY EMAILS AFTER GDPR TAKES EFFECT? pic.twitter.com/I82jjIPKLo
— Mark Gillies (@5goalthriller) May 23, 2018
DO YOU STILL WANT TO GET OUR EMAILS AFTER GDPR TAKES EFFECT? pic.twitter.com/oyx65FHNTC
— Cirque du SoLame (@_Katenip) May 23, 2018
DO YOU STILL WANT TO GET OUR EMAILS AFTER GDPR TAKES EFFECT? pic.twitter.com/zNVFMRRAqM
— Mnrrnt & 207 others (@Mnrrnt) May 23, 2018
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Hide AdThe Labour Party resorted to the classic 'guilt trip' approach:
Labour GDPR email. You will “ruin Jeremy’s birthday” if you don’t sign up. pic.twitter.com/lRXe9yNQzP
— Alex Wickham (@WikiGuido) May 23, 2018
The irony of the GDPR spam deluge was not lost:
Ironic that the GDPR has almost certainly unleashed the biggest torrent of spam in the history of the internet.
— Alistair Cunningham (@Cunningham_UK) May 23, 2018
This GDPR thing has backfired! I’ve never had so many unwanted emails in my life.
— Jason Manford (@JasonManford) May 24, 2018
I’ve literally never had more spam since GDPR came out
— Scouse Bird: Steph B (@ScouseBirdBlogs) May 23, 2018
We can relate to this sentiment:
The future of email is just receiving GDPR privacy notices until your inbox fills up and you no longer have the will to use email anymore.
— Aaron Levie (@levie) May 24, 2018
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Hide AdAnd finally, there were even some genuine GDPR jokes:
GDPR- the joy that keeps on giving. #gdprjokes pic.twitter.com/mEfZN7BMfv
— Louise (@everylilbreeze) May 18, 2018
A joke.Do you know a good GDPR expert?I do.Can I have their email?No.
— Grant Tucker (@GrantTucker) May 23, 2018
Originally published on our sister title, iNews