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Preserving internet anonymity: a vital aspect frequently disregarded

In the expansive digital realm, our footprints appear permanent. It is here that the right to erasure, enshrined by the GDPR, takes prominence.

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Online Privacy as a Crucial Disregarded Entitlement: A Perspective on Digital Anonymity
Online Privacy as a Crucial Disregarded Entitlement: A Perspective on Digital Anonymity

Preserving internet anonymity: a vital aspect frequently disregarded

In today's digital age, protecting personal data is of utmost importance. If you're considering deleting your Instagram account, this guide will walk you through the process, as required by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

The Right to Erasure (Right to be Forgotten)

The GDPR, a European Union regulation, grants individuals the right to request the deletion of their personal data. This right is known as the Right to Erasure or the Right to be Forgotten.

Steps to Delete Your Instagram Account Under GDPR

  1. Identify Yourself: Log in to your Instagram account to verify your identity.
  2. Submit Deletion Request: Use Instagram’s account deletion tool in your account settings.
  3. Wait for Instagram to Process Your Request: Instagram must erase your data without undue delay under GDPR.
  4. Confirm Completion: Instagram will notify you when deletion is complete.
  5. Understand Possible Exceptions: Data retention exceptions may apply for legal or security reasons.

Key Steps to Delete Your Instagram Account Under GDPR

| Step | Action | |-------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------| | Identify yourself | Log in to your Instagram account to verify identity | | Submit deletion request | Use Instagram’s account deletion tool in settings | | Instagram processes request | Instagram must erase data without undue delay under GDPR | | Confirm completion | Instagram notifies you when deletion is complete | | Understand possible exceptions | Data retention exceptions may apply (legal, security) |

Additional Information

  • Before deleting your account, you can download a copy of your photos, videos, and other data from your account settings.
  • On a mobile app (Android or iOS), you can access your profile, open the settings menu, scroll down, and follow a series of steps to permanently delete your account.
  • If your data has been shared with other controllers, Instagram should take reasonable steps to inform them to also erase your data.
  • The Right to Erasure may be limited for reasons such as freedom of expression, legal obligations, public health, archival, research, or statistical purposes, and to establish, exercise, or defend rights in court.
  • For more information about the Right to Erasure, you can refer to the CNIL's article on the rights of the person concerned (Article 17).
  • The Enovators team has designed a digital service called "Unlock My Data" to help users familiarize themselves with companies that may collect their personal data and the steps to request its deletion.

[Cover photo: Tim Mossholder]

[1] European Commission. (2016). Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation).

[3] European Data Protection Board. (2020). Guidelines 05/2020 on the criteria of the legitimate interest for the purposes of the regulation 2016/679.

[5] European Data Protection Board. (2020). Guidelines 07/2020 on the criteria of the controller to demonstrate that the processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller.

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