Marketing Ethics, Privacy, and Compliance
Expect questions on consent, data protection, and honest marketing. Know the principles behind major privacy regimes-GDPR (EU) emphasizing lawful basis, consent, data minimization, and rights like access and erasure; and CCPA/CPRA (California) granting consumers rights to know, delete, and opt out of sale/sharing. Understand that consent must be informed, specific, and freely given, and that opt-in vs. opt-out differ by context and jurisdiction.
Know email marketing compliance (consent-based lists, clear unsubscribe), cookie consent, and restrictions on tracking minors. Understand advertising standards: no deceptive claims, substantiation for claims, clear disclosure of paid partnerships and influencer endorsements, and rules around sensitive data (health, financial) in targeting.
Traps: assuming "it's legal somewhere" makes it acceptable everywhere-apply the strictest applicable rule. Treating purchased email lists as consent (they are not). Hiding disclosures in fine print or using dark patterns (e.g., confusing opt-out flows) is non-compliant. Another trap: assuming anonymized or aggregated data is always exempt-re-identification risk matters.
Worked rule of thumb: When a scenario involves collecting personal data, the safe answer includes: a clear lawful basis, minimal collection, transparent notice, easy opt-out, and secure handling. If an option skips consent or buries the disclosure, eliminate it. For influencer content, require a clear, conspicuous "ad" or "sponsored" label.