How to delete all your data from Facebook

How can I delete my data from Facebook? Find out how to easily send them a deletion request, for free.

Delete your personal data from Facebook

Rightly, Champions of Data, empowers you to easily and securely manage your personal online data.

In April 2021, data from 533 million Facebook accounts in 106 countries was published on a hacking forum. Facebook said the data was old, from a previously reported leak in 2019. It denied doing anything wrong, saying that the data was scraped from publicly available information on the site. Some commentators said at the time that Facebook was being evasive, deflecting blame and offering no real apology for the security failure. There’s often been a stony silence when it comes to data losses at Facebook.

On this page we’ll explain why it’s a good idea to get your data deleted from Facebook and how to go about it. Or if you just want to get started, click the Start Now button which will take you directly to our Rightly Protect service, enabling you to find out who has your data and get it deleted, quickly and for free.

Can I delete my data from Facebook?

Yes you can! You have the right to ask any company to delete all the data they hold on you and they have to comply within 30 days. This right flows from GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) legislation and if companies don’t comply without a valid reason, they can be in trouble.

How do I delete data from Facebook?

The easiest way to get your data deleted from companies like Facebook is to use our Rightly Protect service. In addition to picking Facebook and asking them to erase your data, you can use Rightly Protect to analyse your email inbox to figure out all the companies that have your data. With Rightly Protect you can ask all of them to delete the data they hold on you in one click. Because many companies have your data, even companies you’ve never heard of, and it often runs into hundreds or even thousands of organisations putting your data at risk.

How long until Facebook responds?

Facebook should reply within one calendar month. If they have genuine reasons that they need extra time to consider your request, they can take up to an extra two months - but they should let you know within one month that they need more time and the reasons why. If you’re unhappy with how they respond, you can make a complaint to Facebook and then if you’re still unhappy, you can complain to the ICO (Information Commissioner’s office).

Does Facebook actually delete your data?

Yes, it’s a legal requirement. After one calendar month has passed since your account deletion request, your account and all of your information will be permanently erased by Facebook, and you will not be able to retrieve it.

What type of data does Facebook store on me?

Facebook can collect a wide range of data from registered users:

● Names and passwords of account holders

● Captured content, such as photos and videos

● Data that links users to the photos they took, tagged or liked

● Text message history, address book contacts or other similar personal information

● Metadata on how people use the Instagram mobile app

● Transactional data from Meta owned products and services, including Facebook

● Facial recognition data

● Data on which devices are linked to which accounts

● Geolocational data

● Bank details

● Business information such as company and VAT numbers

● Favourite bands

● Pet names

● Favourite places

If hackers had access to all that and more that and more that is often on Facebook accounts, they can piece together a detailed profile that can be used against you in phishing or other attacks using your data.

What does Facebook do with my data?

Facebook’s main motive for building a data set around each user is to personalise the ads that show up on your feed and elsewhere. Ad targeting changes are made based on a lot of different data: your personal account info, your usage patterns, your location, and more.

But it’s not just your data that shapes your ad feed: Facebook compiles the same kinds of data from a variety of users and uses it to optimise when and where it shows you certain ads on other platforms. The additional data that Facebook collects helps the company to perform strategic market research, communicate directly with users, and counter suspected misuse.

Why delete my data from Facebook?

Facebook has suffered a series of breach attempts and there can be little doubt that hackers will continue attempts to compromise your personal data.

If you’re not using Facebook any more, or think a fresh profile would be a good thing, you can instruct Facebook to delete all the data they have about you and so prevent it from being stolen as a result of a data breach.