Deleting Your Data From Big Tech - Why and How?
🧹Deleting Your Data From Big Tech - Why and How?🧹
An important step in regaining your data is to clean-up the historic data we've already handed over.
It's all well and good drawing a line in the sand and stopping the ''data rot'' but what of the data you've already given out?
Data always leaves a trail and always creates a profile on you. This can pose huge risks in the future.
You have a very powerful right at your disposal.
Although it sounds extremely boring, GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) is a very important component of EU/UK privacy and human rights law allowing you to alter, request and remove data from virtually any public facing entity.
To simply stop using a service like Google is not enough. All the data you have ever given it, willingly or otherwise is already in their hands and thus, in the hands of the hundreds of 3rd parties they sold it to.
This is a problem in several ways. Not only can they continue to monetise your information but of those ''hundreds'' of partners, it would only take one to be hacked and your data to be in the hands of hackers or criminals unknown.
Remember, YOUR data is more valuable than GOLD in the 21st century.
How To Delete Your Data
Trying to remember the hundreds of accounts you've had over the years can feel like an impossible task but luckily there is a tool to help ☺️
Work through the directory over on JustDeleteMe and see if your memory gets jogged.
This website gives you individual details and links to delete your accounts directly along with the difficulty rating of doing so.
Remember though, deleting the account DOES NOT delete your data.
For this official and lawful request, you can use the excellent Datarequests website to do so.
These guys offer a free request generator and template letters to send to the companies you wish to delete data from.
👉 The template letter needs to have your personal details entered into it to allow the company to identify your account
👉 You then copy and paste this text into a blank email
👉 Find the email address of the company's DPO (data protection officer), usually found in the website's privacy policy but sending to any general enquiries address is acceptable
👉 Repeat for every company or service you no longer want to use - Try Google, Apple, Amazon
👉 NOTE - Financial institutions such as banks and the NHS or DVLA may cite various reasons why they cannot delete your data
IMPORTANT - Any company you request from must action within 30 days. Any copies of data they provide must be in an easy to read format and there should be no charge for the request.
If you suspect delays or wrongdoing, you can report the company to the ICO - Link
Amending and Requesting Copies of Data
Not only can you delete your data but you can also have your data amended if incorrect and also have a complete copy of your data provided to you. This last request can be extremely enlightening and shocking as it lays out simply how much data is gathered about us behind the scenes.
Try requesting your data from the NHS and you will get the entire history of you from birth!
Conclusion
Our data trail since the start of the internet is almost endless and you may not be able to fully erase your tracks but at least make a start.
Every single company who actions your request is another off your list. Work through that list whenever you have time but as time goes by, you will feel a real sense of freedom knowing your data is back in your hands!
Challenge yourself and share your progress!
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