IndiaA social media platform won't remove my data. What can I do?
Under India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, you have the right to request erasure of your personal data from a social media platform, and they must comply unless an exception applies. If they refuse, you may file a complaint with the Data Protection Board of India.
What the Law Says
The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDP Act) grants individuals in India enforceable rights over their personal data—including the right to request its erasure from digital platforms like social media services.
Section 9 of the DPDP Act gives you the 'right to erasure' — meaning you can ask a data fiduciary (e.g., a social media company) to delete your personal data if it is no longer necessary for the purpose for which it was collected or processed.
The platform must respond to your erasure request within 72 hours and complete the erasure without undue delay, unless an exemption applies — such as legal compliance, public interest, or prevention of fraud.
If the platform fails to comply, it may face penalties up to ₹50 crore, as per Section 33(1) of the Act.
Statutory TextEvery data principal shall have the right to erasure of their personal data… where such personal data is no longer necessary for the purpose for which it was collected or processed.
— Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, s. 9 — Right to erasure
Statutory TextWhere a data principal makes a request… the data fiduciary shall, within seventy-two hours… take necessary steps to erase the personal data.
— Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, s. 9(2) — Time-bound action
Statutory TextThe Board may impose a penalty… not exceeding fifty crore rupees… for failure to comply with the provisions of this Act.
— Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, s. 33(1) — Penalty
What to Do
Submit a clear, written erasure request to the platform’s designated grievance officer (contact info must be published under Section 26).
Keep proof of submission (e.g., email receipt, screenshot) and note the date and time.
If no response within 72 hours or if your request is denied without valid grounds, file a complaint with the Data Protection Board of India (DPBI) via its official portal.
You may also escalate to the appellate tribunal under Section 37 if dissatisfied with the DPBI’s decision.
Sources
Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.