Know Your Data Rights: A Guide to Data Subjects’ Rights Under Global Laws

Imagine registering for a new online service and then receiving a barrage of unsolicited marketing emails from unfamiliar businesses. Even worse, you discover that your personal information has been disclosed without your permission. Isn’t that frustrating?

The rights of data subjects are in place for precisely this reason. These are the protections incorporated into international privacy laws that provide you, as an individual, the ability to regulate how companies use your personal data. The essence of these rights is straightforward: they are about granting you ownership of your digital identity, even though the technical details may seem overwhelming.

In this guide, we’ll break down the key rights you have under major global laws, share real-world examples, and offer insights on how businesses should honor them.

Think of your data as your digital DNA. Everything about you is revealed, including your name, email address, medical history, and shopping list. In theory, when businesses collect and use that information, they are stealing a part of your identity. You can keep control of that story thanks to data rights.

Global laws like the EU’s GDPR, California’s CCPA/CPRA, Brazil’s LGPD, and others set forth explicit requirements: people must be informed, empowered, and protected. Avoiding spam emails is not as important as preventing identity theft, abuse, and discrimination.

You have the right to know how your data is being used before you give it up. This is where privacy policies and notices are useful.

For example, when you download a health app, the company should make it clear whether your fitness data will be used for research, advertising, or partnerships, or just for tracking steps. Indefinite language or hidden fine print are insufficient.

Business takeaway: Being transparent is important. Trust is strengthened by privacy notices that are easy to understand and easily accessible.

Ever wonder about what precisely this company knows about me? The right of access gives you the power to find out.

A copy of all the personal data that a company has on you must be provided upon request under GDPR, usually at free cost to you. This can cover anything from past purchases to email communication.

Imagine learning that a retailer company has been collecting more detailed information about your purchasing habits than you were  really aware of. Just having that knowledge gives you the ability to make proper decisions.

Errors occur. Perhaps your phone number was entered incorrectly or your address is out of date in a company’s database. You can ask for changes to keep your information current and accurate, thanks to the right to rectification.

It’s similar to correcting a typo on your resume: neither you nor the company should want mistakes to reflect poorly on you.

With good reason, this is one of the most discussed rights. You can ask for your data to be deleted if you no longer want it processed by a company, as long as there isn’t a compelling legal reason to keep it.

Imagine that months after you delete your account on a social media site, targeted advertisements continue to use your data. The purpose of the right to erasure is to stop that.

There are, of course, exceptions. Financial institutions might have to keep records, for instance, in order to comply with regulations. However, your request should be fulfilled in the majority of business situations.

You may occasionally want to restrict the use of your information rather than have it completely erased. You can “pause” processing with this right.

For instance, you can request that the company cease using your data until the problem is fixed if you are contesting its accuracy. You’re merely holding things in place until you’re ready, much like when you hit the pause button on a movie. 

Have you ever wanted your data to follow you when you changed banks, streaming services, or mobile providers? That’s what data portability is all about.

You are authorized to transfer your personal information to another service provider and receive it in a machine-readable, structured format. It is your digital “moving box,” ensuring that when you switch platforms, you do not lose years of history.

Are you uncomfortable with certain forms of reporting or direct marketing using your information? You can say no by exercising your right to disagree.

Imagine an insurance provider predicting your risk profile by looking at your internet activity. You can disagree to such processing if it makes you uncomfortable. This right assists in shielding people from imposing actions that might result in unfair treatment or discrimination.

Laws protect individuals from decisions that are primarily made by machines as algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI) . For example, if a computer system in a bank automatically denies your loan application based on analysis of data available , you have the right to request a human review.
This guarantees that software cannot transform people’s lives on its own.

For companies, safeguarding these rights is about establishing credibility rather than just checking a box on a regulatory form. Here are some best practices :

• Clearly define procedures for responding to data subjects requests.
• Train staff to recognize such requests and react to them quickly.
• Make an investment in technology that allows data portability, deletion, and retrieval.
• Be transparent with individuals about what the law permits and prohibits.

A company that respects data rights not only stays out of trouble but also gains customers’ loyalty.

The core of contemporary privacy laws is the rights of data subjects. In a world where data is continuously gathered, examined, and published, they empower people to take charge of their personal information.

You don’t have to feel powerless when it comes to your personal information if you are aware of your rights. In addition to being required by law, respecting these rights gives businesses the opportunity to establish themselves as reliable and customer-focused.

To put it briefly, respect is more important than compliance when it comes to protecting personal information. And in the digital age, trust is built on respect.

Data Subject Rights require clear processes, timely responses, and an understanding of global privacy regulations. Azpirantz helps organisations put these foundations in place by offering practical guidance on how to recognise, document, and respond to requests such as access, deletion, rectification, or objection. Through our Data Privacy services, we assist teams in setting up workflows, training staff, and ensuring that requests are handled consistently and in line with legal requirements. This support enables organisations to manage rights efficiently, reduce errors, and maintain transparency with individuals who want to understand or control how their data is used.

*This content has been created and published by the Azpirantz Marketing Team and should not be considered as professional advice. For expert consulting and professional advice, please reach out to [email protected].