...snip...
Citation needed. My understanding of the GDPR is unless there is a legitimate reason to have the information it is not legal to ask for it or store it. Canada has similar legislation, but it's not as tough. The USA seems to think people have no right to privacy.
From the horse's mouth:
Is asking for a telephone number to access a website legal in the EU?
In the European Union, it is not illegal to ask for a telephone number to access a website. However, there are strict rules in place regarding the use and protection of personal data, including telephone numbers, under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Under the GDPR, any organization that collects and processes personal data must have a valid legal basis for doing so, and must ensure that the data is collected and processed in a fair, transparent, and secure manner. In the case of a website asking for a telephone number, the organization would need to provide clear and specific information to users about why they are collecting their telephone number, and how it will be used.
Additionally, the GDPR gives individuals the right to access, rectify, erase, or restrict the processing of their personal data, so users would also have the right to request that their telephone number be deleted or otherwise processed in a certain way.
Overall, while it is not illegal to ask for a telephone number to access a website, organizations must be transparent and compliant with the GDPR in order to collect and process personal data in the European Union.