Marketing automation with n8n: GDPR, AI Act, and NIS2 compliant

GDPR - Data protection remains the operational core

The General Data Protection Regulation is and remains the immediate basis for all data processing in marketing.
It determines when and how personal data may be used – whether for sending newsletters, CRM reconciliation, or lead scoring.

Important principles (Art. 5 GDPR):

• Purpose limitation: Use data only for clearly defined purposes.
• Data minimization: Only collect necessary data.
• Transparency: Users must know what happens to their data.
• Accountability: Every processing operation must be verifiable.

With n8n, these obligations can be implemented in practice:

Automatic collection and storage of consents.
Double opt-in processes and central documentation.
Versioned audit trails to make data flows traceable.

Practical tip: Integrate a consent status check into your mailing workflow – this will automatically stop emails without valid consent.

EU AI Act - Transparency requirements are coming, preparation starts now

The EU AI Act has been in force since August 2024, but most of the regulations will become applicable in August 2026. Initial requirements, such as risk assessments, will already take effect in 2025.
Companies that currently use AI-supported systems, e.g., for lead scoring, text personalization, or chatbots should adapt their processes now.

Key requirements:

• Transparency: Customers must know when AI influences decisions.
• Risk classification: Marketing AI is generally considered “limited risk,” but requires documentation.
• Human oversight: Automated processes must remain controllable.

In n8n, this means:

• Mark AI-supported steps in workflows.
• Introduce log nodes that record decisions.
• Add manual review steps to scoring or personalization processes.

Insight: 2025 is the year of preparation. Those who create documentation and transparency structures now will be able to start 2026 without having to make any changes.

NIS2 - IT security requirements for marketing systems

Since October 2024, the NIS2 Directive has required EU member states to enact national laws.
In Germany, the NIS2 Implementation Act is expected to come into force at the end of 2025 or the beginning of 2026. The message is clear: companies must start implementing now.

Key points:

• Risk management: Perform security and vulnerability analyses.
• Reporting requirements: Report security incidents within 72 hours.
• Supply chain security: Third-party tools must be reviewed.

With n8n, these obligations can be operationalized at an early stage:

• Monitoring flows, monitoring API connections, and access.
• Incident workflows automatically forward security reports to data protection or IT teams.
• Risk reports can be generated and archived on a regular basis.

Lesson: Marketing automations are also part of corporate IT – and therefore relevant to security.

Insight: Automation can secure processes – if it follows rules rather than circumventing them.

The GDPR remains the most immediate risk in everyday marketing. Violations quickly lead to fines and reputational damage. Although the AI Act and NIS2 introduce new requirements, most incidents in 2025 will still be caused by traditional data protection errors.

1. Unauthorized advertising

Missing or undocumented consent is the most common cause of fines.

2. Profiling without control

Automated segmentation or scoring without human review violates Art. 22 GDPR. n8n can help make such decisions traceable through logging and review nodes.

3. Lack of documentation

During audits, what counts is what you can prove, not what you think you did. Audit workflows with automatic logging provide security here.

4. Technical vulnerabilities

Unencrypted APIs, open webhooks, or missing authorization checks are relevant to NIS2 – and directly jeopardize data security.

1. Automate consent management

• Record, store, and revoke consent via n8n nodes.
• Automate opt-out processes and reminders for expiring consents.
• Log every entry in an audit-proof manner.

2. Create a processing directory in accordance with Art. 30 GDPR

• Let n8n automatically record all data flows.
• Add fields for purpose, storage location, and deletion period.
• This keeps your directory up to date - a big advantage during audits.

3. Create transparency in AI use

• Label AI-supported processes in emails or landing pages.
• Document decision-making logic and input data.
• Regularly check for bias or discrimination risks.

4. Set up monitoring & audit trails

• Monitor critical actions: exports, API connections, and new data sources.
• Automate weekly reports to data protection officers.
• Respond to anomalies in real time – via Slack, Teams, or email.

5. Prepare security processes in accordance with NIS2

• Develop incident response flows that automatically alert for failed attempts or suspicious access.
• Conduct supplier audits digitally and archive evidence.
• Add regular risk and compliance checks to workflows.

Example setup: A central “compliance hub” in n8n that stores consents, processing directories, and security al

• EU AI Act: In force since 2024, applicability staggered from 2025 and 2026.
• NIS2: Implementation obligations start now, even if national laws are still being finalized.

Companies that start building their automation and documentation structures in 2025 will avoid hectic adjustments next year.

Those who integrate data protection (GDPR), transparency (AI Act), and security (NIS2) will not only achieve compliance but also build trust as a competitive advantage.

N8N can make marketing automation efficient and legally compliant.
Those who consider data protection and IT security from the outset benefit in several ways:

• Legal compliance: Minimized fines and liability risks.
• Efficiency: Fewer manual checks, clear documentation.
• Trust: Transparent processes strengthen customer loyalty.

Automation is not an end in itself, it is a tool for making responsibility scalable. Now is the time to use it for that purpose.