Up to 37 million people in the UK could ask for their personal data to be edited or deleted after GDPR

71 per cent in Crown Records Management survey say they will take up ‘right to be forgotten’

British businesses could be overloaded by up to 37 million requests for personal data to edited or deleted when a new regulation comes into force in May – according to results from a national survey.

The EU General Data Protection Regulation, which comes into force on May 25, will give EU citizens greater rights over their personal data.

This includes a right to ask for their data to be edited or deleted as part of a so-called ‘right to be forgotten’ or, as the regulation puts it, ‘right to erasure’. Now businesses are bracing themselves for exactly what this means – and how much it will cost them.

A survey by Crown Records Management, global information management experts, has revealed some remarkable results when it comes to how many people could ask for their data to be removed or altered in future.

The results, after more than 2,000 members of the general public were polled by Censuswide across the country, revealed 71 per cent said they would (either definitely or possibly) ask a company to edit or delete their data when the new regulation comes into force. In an adult UK population of 52.6 million this could result in 37.3 million requests. 25 per cent said they would definitely ask for data to be edited to deleted – which amounts to 13.15 million requests. Only 8 per cent gave a straight ‘no’ when asked if they would want data edited or deleted.More than 34 per cent of 25-34 year-olds said they would definitely ask for their data to be edited or deleted.More than half of directors said they would definitely ask for their personal data to be changed or removed..

David Fathers, Regional Manager at Crown Records Management said: “We were all aware that the public is increasingly interested in how their personal data is used and increasingly aware of its value and the dangers of its misuse.

“But for so many people to indicate they will ask for data to be edited or deleted will come as a shock to many businesses.