Delete your personal data from Snapchat
Rightly, Champions of Data, empowers you to easily and securely manage your personal online data.
There was a well-known data breach back in 2014, where approximately 4.6 million Snapchat usernames and phone numbers were leaked online. The breach was caused by a vulnerability in Snapchat's "Find Friends" feature, which allowed hackers to collect user data and publish it online.
Snapchat took steps to address the breach by releasing an update to the app that added new security measures, such as two-factor authentication and rate limiting. They also created a bug bounty program to incentivize researchers to report any vulnerabilities they find in the app.
On this page we’ll explain why it’s a good idea to get your data deleted from Snapchat 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.
What we’ll cover
- Can I delete my data from Snapchat?
- How do I delete data from Snapchat?
- How long until Snapchat responds?
- Does Snapchat actually delete your data ?
- What type of data does Snapchat store on me?
- What does Snapchat do with my data?
- Why delete my data from Snapchat?
Can I delete my data from Snapchat?
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 Snapchat?
The easiest way to get your data deleted from companies like Snapchat is to use our Rightly Protect service. In addition to picking Snapchat 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 Snapchat responds?
Snapchat 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 Snapchat and then if you’re still unhappy, you can complain to the ICO (Information Commissioner’s office).
Does Snapchat 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 Snapchat, and you will not be able to retrieve it.
What type of data does Snapchat store on me?
Snapchat 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 Snapchat mobile app
- Transactional data from Meta owned products and services, including Snapchat
- 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 Snapchat accounts, they can piece together a detailed profile that can be used against you in phishing or other attacks using your data.
What does Snapchat do with my data?
Snapchat’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: Snapchat 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 Snapchat collects helps the company to perform strategic market research, communicate directly with users, and counter suspected misuse.
Why delete my data from Snapchat?
Snapchat 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 Snapchat any more, or think a fresh profile would be a good thing, you can instruct Snapchat to delete all the data they have about you and so prevent it from being stolen as a result of a data breach.