Does GDPR apply to a deceased person?

Asked by: Leonardo Walter Jr.  |  Last update: January 28, 2026
Score: 4.9/5 (37 votes)

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) does not apply to the personal data of deceased persons. Therefore, if the issue relates to the personal data of a deceased individual, the DPC will not be in a position to progress this matter for you on your behalf as it falls outside data protection law.

Does GDPR apply to deceased?

In legal terms, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act no longer applies to identifiable data that relate to a person once they have died. However any duty of confidence established prior to death does extend beyond death.

Does data protection apply to a deceased individual as a general rule?

Data protection law does not apply to the personal data of deceased persons.

Under what circumstances does GDPR not apply?

In short, the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) doesn't apply if your business doesn't operate within the EU, doesn't process personal data, or if you're only processing data for domestic purposes.

Does the privacy act apply to deceased individuals?

Deceased Individuals: The Privacy Act does not protect records pertaining to deceased individuals. However, next-of-kin may have a “common law” privacy interest in not having information about the deceased released, e.g., if it could embarrass, endanger or cause emotional distress to them.

Who Does GDPR Apply To

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What happens to your data after death?

The data of deceased persons is used and reused by companies and individuals for their own ends. Some of this usage is moderately benign, but most are unpalatable or even evil. The bottom line is that the dead have no data rights. The primary regulations on data privacy are only for living people.

What not to do immediately after someone dies?

What Not to Do When Someone Dies: 10 Common Mistakes

  • Not Obtaining Multiple Copies of the Death Certificate.
  • 2- Delaying Notification of Death.
  • 3- Not Knowing About a Preplan for Funeral Expenses.
  • 4- Not Understanding the Crucial Role a Funeral Director Plays.
  • 5- Letting Others Pressure You Into Bad Decisions.

What are the 7 main principles of GDPR?

Lawfulness, fairness, and transparency; ▪ Purpose limitation; ▪ Data minimisation; ▪ Accuracy; ▪ Storage limitation; ▪ Integrity and confidentiality; and ▪ Accountability.

What are the exemptions for Article 27 of the GDPR?

Are there any exemptions? There is one exemption where a non-EU company is not required to have an EU representative. If your company processes personal data 'occasionally', and is unlikely to result in a risk to the rights and freedoms of natural persons, then you are exempt.

Does GDPR apply to private individuals?

Yes, individuals can be subject to the GDPR, if their data processing is beyond the scope of “purely personal or household activity” as defined in Article 2 of the GDPR. The regulation does not apply to the processing of personal data by a natural person for purely personal or household activity.

What is the privacy of data after death?

In general, patients are entitled to the same respect for the confidentiality of their personal information after death as they were in life. Physicians have a corresponding obligation to protect patient information, including information obtained postmortem.

What to do about a data breach for my deceased mother?

Report all evidence of identity theft immediately: Report all evidence that the deceased has been a victim of identity theft directly to the police in the deceased's jurisdiction, and be sure to file a police report. You must also notify each of the three major credit reporting agencies.

Does confidentiality apply to deceased?

The Department of Health & Social Care state that under common law confidentiality must continue after death. This is because people expect information provided for their care is not shared with others unless they had consented.

What is Article 27 in simple terms?

Article 27

Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.

What is Article 57 of the GDPR?

Without prejudice to other tasks set out under this Regulation, each supervisory authority shall on its territory: monitor and enforce the application of this Regulation; promote public awareness and understanding of the risks, rules, safeguards and rights in relation to processing.

What is Article 37 of the GDPR?

Article 37Designation of the data protection officer

A group of undertakings may appoint a single data protection officer provided that a data protection officer is easily accessible from each establishment.

What are the exemptions to GDPR?

Key GDPR exemptions relate to: special purposes (archiving, research, statistics), household and personal use, law enforcement and crime prevention, and national and public security. Even if an exemption applies, organizations must generally still uphold the core GDPR principles.

What is the GDPR explained simply?

GDPR is an EU law with mandatory rules for how organisations and companies must use personal data in an integrity friendly way. Personal data means any information which, directly or indirectly, could identify a living person. Name, phone number, and address are schoolbook examples of personal data.

What happens if you violate GDPR?

83(4) GDPR sets forth fines of up to 10 million euros, or, in the case of an undertaking, up to 2% of its entire global turnover of the preceding fiscal year, whichever is higher. Especially important here, is that the term “undertaking” is equivalent to that used in Art.

What is the 40 day rule after death?

In many cultures, the number 40 carries profound symbolic meaning. It represents a period of transition, purification, and spiritual transformation. The 40-day period is often seen as a time for the departed's soul to complete its journey to the afterlife, seeking forgiveness, redemption, and peace.

What is 7 minutes after death?

“ Some scientists claim that the brain might be active for a short time after someone dies, maybe 7 minutes or more. They're not sure what happens during that time, if it's like a dream, seeing memories, or something else. But if it is memories, then you'd definitely be part of my 7 minutes or hopefully, more. “

Why not tell the bank when someone dies?

Not only is this unnecessary (and depending on the circumstances, you may not even be legally authorized to do so) but doing so may cause an adverse tax consequence and can cause significant problems with the proper administration of the estate.

Does GDPR apply if dead?

The Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) only apply to living individuals and therefore cannot be used to access personal information for a deceased person.

What happens the first 5 minutes after death?

For the first few minutes of the postmortem period, brain cells may survive. The heart can keep beating without its blood supply. A healthy liver continues breaking down alcohol. And if a technician strikes your thigh above the kneecap, your leg likely kicks, just as it did at your last reflex test with a physician.

Who owns your data after death?

In many cases, the ownership of digital assets is governed by the terms of service agreements you accept when you sign up for online services. These agreements often dictate what happens to your data after death, but they can be difficult to navigate and understand.