Right to Erasure
Definition
Another term for the right to delete, more commonly used in European (GDPR) contexts but increasingly referenced in US privacy discussions. Functionally identical to the right to delete under state privacy laws.
Legal Definition
US state privacy laws generally use "right to delete" rather than "right to erasure." The GDPR (Art. 17) established the "right to erasure" (also called "right to be forgotten"), which influenced US state law provisions. The practical requirements are the same: businesses must remove personal data upon a verified consumer request.
State Laws Using This Term
Practical Example
A consumer requests that a social media platform erase all their personal data. The platform must verify the request and delete the data, including instructing downstream processors to do the same.
Compare US data deletion rights
See which state laws provide deletion rights, the exceptions businesses can apply, and how the US approach differs from GDPR in our state-by-state right to be forgotten guide.
Related Terms
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the right to erasure the same as the right to delete?
Functionally, yes. "Right to erasure" is the GDPR term, while US state laws typically use "right to delete." Both give consumers the ability to request removal of their personal data from a business's systems.