Deleting online accounts

[fitsw6]

I closed my online account for emusic.com over 6 months ago but thye still have my details. I have just asked them to delete my account from their records but they said they can not do that. Is this correct? If not, how do I get them to remove all my details from thier system?

[buzby]

It's their system... by joining you agreed to them holding your data. Once you leave, then they can no longer 'process' your data for other functions, but to retain it? That would be seen as being 'responsible'. Especially, if, down the line, they were asked to provide details of your transactions in view of possible irregularities. Presently, there may be no issues, but in 2012...? Who knows?

 

The other PoV they could tell you your details have been removed from their system - but surely you would still appear on its database backup, or former customer list? You could never police it, and could only take on trust what they said.

 

The ability to 'disappear' from a computer system is not a 'right' we enjoy.

[fitsw6]

Thanks for that

[My Real Name]

One of the principles of the DPA is that that information may only be held for a reasonable amount of time. This is usually inferred to be 6 years.

[buzby]

'Live' data, perhaps. Have you asked the Commissioner about backups? Nothing in the law stipulates that archived data cannot be held after 6 years (or indeed any numerical stipulation). Incremental backups will probably be overwritten before then... but what of that bus trip to the shops where the bus company videoed your journey? Nothing there to require mandatory destruction/deletion.