Do you have a mechanism to delete customer personal data upon verified request?

Explanation of the Question:

This question is asking whether your organization has a process in place to remove personal data of customers when they formally request it. Personal data can include names, email addresses, physical addresses, and any other information that can be used to identify an individual. The request must be verified to ensure it is legitimate, meaning you need to confirm the identity of the person making the request to prevent unauthorized deletions.

Why It Matters:

Having a mechanism to delete personal data upon request is crucial for several reasons. First, it helps build trust with your customers by showing that you respect their privacy and give them control over their data. Second, many data protection regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe, require organizations to provide this capability. Non-compliance can result in significant fines and legal repercussions. Finally, it reduces the risk of data breaches, as less stored data means there is less sensitive information that could be exposed if a breach occurs.

Example of Evidence:

To demonstrate that you have this mechanism in place, you might provide documentation of your data deletion policy, including the steps taken to verify a deletion request and the technical processes used to remove the data from your systems. For instance, you could show logs of deletion requests, confirmation that the data was removed from all databases and backups, and any notifications sent to the customer confirming the deletion.