whoa.fyi

How To Remove Your Twitter Account from Internet Archive

Jon P -

If you've been on Twitter, you may want to take your account private at some point. However, if someone has requested it, there may be a screenshot of your posts stored on web.archive.org. Marking your profile page for exclusion can be a good idea to protect your privacy online.

Process for Requesting Exclusion

Thanks to the EU's GDPR, it's easy for you to request for your data to be excluded from Internet Archive.

The process is as follows:

  • Make a tweet/post saying that you would like for your posts to be removed from web.archive.org. Copy the URL for the tweet/post, as you'll need it for the next step.
  • Compose an email to info@archive.org with the following template:
To whom it may concern,

I am hereby requesting immediate erasure of personal data concerning me according to Article 17 GDPR.

Please delete the following personal data concerning me:

https://twitter.com/[YOUR TWITTER HANDLE HERE]

I am of the opinion that the requirements set forth in Article 17(1) GDPR are fulfilled.

If I have given consent to the processing of my personal data (e.g. according to Article 6(1) or Article 9(2) GDPR), I am hereby withdrawing said consent.

In addition, I am objecting to the processing of personal data concerning me (which includes profiling), according to Article 21 GDPR.

In case you have disclosed the affected personal data to third parties, you have to communicate my request for erasure of the affected personal data, as well as any references to it, to each recipient as laid down in Article 19 GDPR. Please also inform me about those recipients.

If you object to the requested erasure, you have to justify that to me.

My request explicitly includes any other services and companies for which you are the controller as defined by Article 4(7) GDPR.

As laid down in Article 12(3) GDPR, you have to confirm the erasure to me without undue delay and in any event within one month of receipt of the request.

I am including the following information necessary to identify me:

[LINK TO THE POST REQUESTING REMOVAL]

If you do not answer my request within the stated period, I am reserving the right to take legal action against you and to lodge a complaint with the responsible supervisory authority.

Yours sincerely,

[YOUR NAME]
  • Send the email and wait a few business days. You will get an automated response in a timely manner indicating that your data will be removed.

Conclusion

For most individuals, having your Twitter profile archived on web.archive.org may not be a big deal, but if you are concerned about your privacy and being able to quickly curtail your online presence, making this exclusion request can be helpful.