IrelandA social media company won't let me download my data.
Under Irish law, you have a legal right to access and download your personal data from social media companies. They must provide it without undue delay and within one month of your request.
What the Law Says
The Data Protection Act 2018 gives you a clear legal right to obtain a copy of your personal data held by social media companies operating in Ireland.
Section 57 of the Data Protection Act 2018 implements your right of access under the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This means you can ask any company — including social media platforms — for a copy of all personal data they hold about you.
The company must respond 'without undue delay' and in any case within one month of receiving your request. They cannot charge you a fee, unless your request is 'manifestly unfounded or excessive', and even then, only if strictly justified.
They must provide the data in a commonly used electronic format — like a ZIP file or JSON — so you can easily download and reuse it. If you ask for it in a specific format (e.g., CSV), they must comply if technically feasible.
Statutory TextThe data controller shall provide the information referred to in subsection (1) without undue delay and, in any event, within one month of receipt of the request.
— Data Protection Act 2018, s. 57 — Right of access by the data subject
What to Do
Make your request in writing (email is acceptable) — clearly state you are exercising your right of access under Section 57 of the Data Protection Act 2018.
Include enough detail to identify yourself (e.g., username, registered email, account ID) but avoid sending sensitive documents unless requested.
If the company doesn’t respond within one month, or refuses without valid grounds, contact the Data Protection Commission (DPC) at dataprotection.ie.
Keep copies of your request and any replies — these will be needed if you escalate the matter.
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.