Get your Data!
Make an Access Request at Facebook!

According to European data protection law every individual has the right to get a copy of all personal data a company holds about him (right to access). This law is applicable to Facebook too. Every user with a residence outside of the US and Canada has a contract with “Facebook Ireland Limited”, based in Dublin, Ireland and has a right to access therefore.
(Again: Anyone outside of the US or Canada has a right to access!)

By sending an access request you get an idea about the use of your personal data by Facebook. It also shows Facebook that users care about their data and privacy.

 Note: Facebook has made it more and more difficult to get access to your data. The legal deadline of 40 days is currently ignored. Users get rerouted to a “download tool” that only gives you a copy of your own profile (about 22 data categories of 84 categories).

You can make a complaint to the Irish Data Protection Commission, but the Commission seems to turn down all complaints that were filed. Therefore we have now also posted forms which allow you to complain at the European Commission if the Irish authority does not enforce your right to access.

3 Options to get your Data...      2 Options to get your Data:
 

 Note: You were rerouted to the “Download Tool” or did not receive an answer?
File a complaint with the Irish Data Protection Commission!
 

For a while now Facebook has been fooling its users and sends them a link to a “download tool” where you can download a small fraction of your data (about 22 data categories of the 84 Facebook is holding).
If you did not receive more information by Facebook, you should file a complaint with the Irish Data Protection Commission to ensure that your right to access is enforced.

1. Have 40 days passed since you asked for your data?
Facebook has 40 days by law to send your data to you. You cannot file a complaint before the 40 days are over.
Facebook sends a confirmation after you have requested your data.
Check if your request date was already 40 days ago.

2. Did Facebook send you all your personal data?
Facebook has to send you a very large amount of personal data.
Usually this happened by sending users a PDF file on a CD (sometimes as an attachment to an e-mail).
You best compare the data you got with the data we describe on the page data pool.
If you got less data than described there, you should file a complaint.

Note: Downloading your data through the “download tool” will just give you access to a small portion of the data.

3. E-mail to the Irish Data Protection Commissioner
You can send an informal complaint to the Irish Data Protection Commissioner.
We would ask you to use the provided form.

>> via E-Mail:
- A complaint (form) AND
- A copy of the e-mails you received from Facebook
to info@dataprotection.ie
 

Forms to print an scan	Word (.docx)	PDF
Forms you can fill out on you computer	Word (.docx)	PDF

OR

>> via Online-Form
Alternatively you can fill out the Commission's online form.
You should clearly indicate the date of your access request.