Governance Guide
AI Right to Deletion Implementation Guide (2026) - GDPR Compliance
Right to deletion (GDPR Article 17) requires deleting user data from AI systems: prompts, outputs, logs. This guide covers deletion workflows and verification.
Direct answer
Right to deletion (GDPR Article 17) requires deleting user data from AI systems: prompts, outputs, logs. This guide covers deletion workflows and verification.
Fast path
- Identify user data locations: prompt logs, output storage, training datasets, cached responses.
- Implement deletion: delete prompts/outputs immediately, remove from training datasets.
- Verify deletion: confirm data removed from all storage, audit deletion completion.
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Implementation Steps
- Identify user data locations: prompt logs, output storage, training datasets, cached responses.
- Implement deletion: delete prompts/outputs immediately, remove from training datasets.
- Verify deletion: confirm data removed from all storage, audit deletion completion.
- Document process: deletion request log, completion timestamp, verification evidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What data must be deleted from AI systems?
AI data for deletion requests: user prompts, AI outputs/reponses, prompt/output logs, cached responses, training data containing user inputs, and any derived data (profiles, analytics). Complete deletion within 30 days (GDPR) or CCPA timeline.
Can trained AI models be deleted?
Trained model deletion complexity: if model trained on user data, full deletion requires retraining without that data. Alternatives: fine-tune to 'unlearn' specific inputs (partial), or document that model cannot be fully purged and inform users before collection.
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