What does the right to rectify personal data allow a data subject to do?

The right to rectify personal data is a fundamental aspect of data protection legislation, allowing data subjects to request modifications to their personal information when it is inaccurate or incomplete. This right ensures that individuals maintain control over their personal data and that any information held about them is accurate and up-to-date, which is essential for maintaining trust and integrity in data handling practices.

When individuals find that their personal data contains errors, such as incorrect names, addresses, or other details, they can exercise this right to ensure that the data controller amends these inaccuracies. This aspect of data rights is crucial, as it helps prevent potential harm that could arise from using wrong information, such as being wrongly associated with certain products or services.

This right does not extend to other actions, such as outright removal of personal data or accessing personal data from all sources, as those options pertain to different rights under data protection laws. The right to rectify specifically focuses on ensuring the information that is retained is accurate and complete. Additionally, transferring data to another service provider pertains to different rights, allowing individuals to obtain and move their data rather than request corrections to it.