Washington Data Privacy Rights: How to Remove Your Data Under MHPDA

Your personal information is valuable—not just to you, but to data brokers, marketers, and other companies that profit from selling it. If you're a Washington resident concerned about your privacy rights, you're in luck. Washington state has implemented some of the strongest data protection laws in the country, including the My Health My Data Act (MHPDA). Understanding these washington privacy rights and how to exercise them is the first step toward taking control of your digital footprint.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through your data removal options under Washington law, explain how the MHPDA works, and show you how to effectively remove your personal information from data brokers operating in the state.

Overview of Privacy Laws in Washington State

Washington has established itself as a leader in consumer data privacy protection. The state's privacy framework includes multiple laws designed to give residents control over their personal information.

The Washington Privacy Act Foundation

Washington's approach to data privacy builds on several key pieces of legislation:

My Health My Data Act (MHPDA) - Enacted in 2023, this law specifically protects health and wellness data collected by consumer apps and web services
Washington Privacy Act (proposed) - A comprehensive privacy law similar to the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)
Data Broker Accountability Act - Regulates how data brokers collect, use, and sell personal information
Identity Theft Laws - Provide protections and notification requirements when data breaches occur

The MHPDA represents a significant milestone in washington data broker law, as it's one of the first laws in the nation to specifically address health data privacy for consumers using digital health applications.

How Washington Compares to Other States

Washington's privacy framework is comparable to California's CCPA and the European Union's GDPR in scope and consumer protections. Like these laws, Washington privacy rights include:

The right to know what data is collected about you
The right to delete personal information
The right to opt-out of data sales
The right to access your data in a portable format
The right to non-discrimination for exercising your privacy rights

Your Specific Rights Under the MHPDA

The My Health My Data Act grants Washington residents explicit rights regarding their health and wellness information. Understanding these rights is crucial for protecting your personal data.

What Data Does the MHPDA Protect?

The MHPDA applies to "health and wellness data" collected by consumer apps and web services. This includes:

Health information from fitness trackers and wellness apps
Mental health data from meditation or therapy applications
Reproductive health information
Genetic data
Substance use and addiction treatment information
Data about disabilities or medical conditions
Wellness tracking data (sleep, exercise, nutrition)

Your Four Core Rights

Under the MHPDA, you have the right to:

Know and Access - Request what health and wellness data has been collected about you
Delete - Request deletion of your health data (with limited exceptions for legal compliance)
Correct - Request correction of inaccurate health information
Data Minimization - Restrict collection to only what's necessary for the stated purpose

Additionally, the law prohibits:

Selling health and wellness data to third parties without explicit opt-in consent
Using health data for targeted advertising, price discrimination, or insurance underwriting
Sharing data with data brokers unless you've explicitly consented

Limitations to Know

While the MHPDA is comprehensive, certain exceptions exist:

Companies may retain data if required by law (tax records, legal holds)
Health data may be retained for up to 12 months for legitimate business purposes
De-identified data (truly anonymized) may be used and shared more freely

How to Exercise Your Data Deletion Rights

Taking action to remove your data under washington privacy rights requires understanding the practical steps involved.

Step 1: Identify Companies Holding Your Data

Before you can request deletion, you need to know which companies have your information. Consider:

Apps you've used for fitness, mental health, or wellness
Wearable devices and their associated platforms
Health-related websites and services
Data brokers that may have aggregated your information
Online retailers that collected health-related data

Start by auditing your phone and computer for apps you've installed, then check their privacy policies to understand what data they collect.

Step 2: Submit Data Access Requests

Before requesting deletion, file a data access request to see exactly what information companies hold about you:

Visit the company's privacy or account settings page
Look for "Data Access Request," "Download Your Data," or similar options
Provide required identification (usually email address or account login)
Wait for the company to respond (typically 30-45 days under washington privacy rights)

This step is valuable because it shows you what data exists and helps you make informed deletion decisions.

Step 3: Submit Data Deletion Requests

Once you understand what data exists, submit formal deletion requests:

Use the company's official data deletion request process
Be specific about which data categories you want removed
Keep documentation of your request (screenshots, email confirmations)
Note the date you submitted your request
Follow up if you don't receive confirmation within the required timeframe

Step 4: Verify Deletion

After submitting deletion requests:

Request another data access report after 30-60 days
Verify that the data has actually been removed
Document any data that wasn't deleted as promised
Keep records for potential complaints to the Washington Attorney General

Which Data Brokers Operate in Washington State

Data brokers are companies that collect, aggregate, and sell personal information. Many operate nationally, including in Washington.

Major Data Brokers in Washington

Common data brokers that may hold information about Washington residents include:

People search sites - Spokeo, Whitepages, BeenVerified, Pipl
Background check companies - Intelius, MyLife, PeopleLooker
Data aggregators - Acxiom, Equifax, Experian (beyond credit reporting)
Marketing databases - Oracle Data Cloud, Epsilon, Accenture
Health data brokers - Companies specializing in health and wellness data aggregation

How to Remove Data from Brokers

Removing data from data brokers requires different approaches than contacting the original sources:

Opt-out requests - Most brokers have opt-out mechanisms on their websites
Cease and desist letters - Formal requests to stop collecting and selling your data
Individual deletion requests - Specific requests to remove your profile
Attorney General complaints - Filing complaints when brokers don't comply

The process varies by company, but under washington data broker law, they must honor reasonable requests to remove or stop selling your information.

Step-by-Step: Filing a Complaint with the Washington Attorney General

If companies fail to honor your data removal requests, the Washington Attorney General's office can help.

When to File a Complaint

Consider filing a complaint if:

A company doesn't respond to your deletion request within 45 days
They claim they deleted your data but it still appears
They refuse to delete data without legitimate legal reason
A data broker continues selling your information after opt-out requests

How to File

Follow these steps to file a complaint:

Visit the Washington Attorney General's website at atg.wa.gov
Locate the consumer protection complaint form (usually under "File a Complaint")
Provide detailed information including:

- The company name and contact information

- Dates you submitted deletion requests

- Copies of your requests and any responses

- Explanation of how the company violated your rights

- Any financial harm you've suffered

Submit supporting documentation:

- Screenshots of requests

- Email confirmations

- Proof of identity verification

- Evidence that data still exists

Keep copies of everything you submit

What Happens Next

After filing:

The Attorney General's office reviews your complaint
They may investigate the company's practices
If violations are found, they can take enforcement action
You may be contacted for additional information
The office may pursue civil penalties against the company

Timeline Expectations

Initial review: 1-2 weeks
Investigation (if opened): 30-90 days
Resolution: Varies based on complexity

How GhostMyData Automates Removals Under Washington Law

Manually submitting data removal requests to dozens of companies is time-consuming and complex. This is where GhostMyData comes in.

What GhostMyData Does

GhostMyData automates the process of removing your personal information under washington privacy rights:

Identifies data brokers holding your information
Submits removal requests on your behalf to companies in Washington
Tracks responses and follows up on incomplete removals
Documents compliance with MHPDA and other privacy laws
Handles disputes with companies that don't comply

The Automated Process

Initial Scan - Take our free scan to identify which data brokers have your information
Customized Plan - We create a removal strategy specific to your situation
Automated Submissions - Our system submits removal requests to relevant companies
Ongoing Monitoring - We track whether companies actually delete your data
Follow-up Actions - We escalate non-compliant companies
Verification Reports - You receive documentation of all removals

Why Automation Matters

Manual data removal has significant challenges:

Time-intensive - Contacting 50+ companies individually takes 20+ hours
Complex processes - Each company has different request procedures
Tracking difficulties - Hard to remember which companies you've contacted
Follow-up burden - Requires monitoring multiple responses over months
Compliance gaps - Easy to miss deadlines or requirements

GhostMyData handles all of this automatically, ensuring nothing falls through the cracks.

Compliance with Washington Law

GhostMyData's process is designed to comply fully with:

MHPDA requirements - We prioritize health and wellness data removal
Data broker accountability - We enforce washington data broker law compliance
Attorney General standards - Our documentation supports complaints if needed
CCPA/GDPR standards - We apply best practices from other privacy laws

Our Success Rate

GhostMyData successfully removes or significantly reduces personal information for most users. Our approach includes:

Multiple submission attempts if initial requests are ignored
Escalation procedures for non-compliant companies
Documentation for Attorney General complaints
Verification that data is actually removed (not just promised)

FAQ: Washington Data Privacy Rights

What's the difference between the MHPDA and general privacy laws?

The MHPDA specifically protects health and wellness data collected by consumer apps and web services. It's more restrictive than general privacy laws because it prohibits selling health data without explicit opt-in consent and restricts use for targeted advertising or insurance underwriting. General privacy laws typically require opt-out for data sales and allow more uses of personal information. If you use health or wellness apps, the MHPDA provides stronger protections than standard privacy rights.

How long does it take to remove data under Washington privacy rights?

The timeline varies by company. Under washington privacy rights, companies must respond to deletion requests within 45 days. However, the actual deletion process may take longer. Data brokers might take 30-90 days to remove information from their systems. Using GhostMyData can accelerate this process since we handle follow-ups and escalations automatically, typically completing most removals within 60-90 days.

Can companies refuse to delete my data?

Companies can refuse deletion only in specific circumstances, such as:

Legal requirements (tax records, legal holds)
Active law enforcement investigations
Legitimate business purposes (up to 12 months for MHPDA data)
Contractual obligations

In most cases, your washington privacy rights entitle you to deletion. If a company refuses without legitimate reason, you can file a complaint with the Washington Attorney General. GhostMyData can help document these refusals and escalate them appropriately.

What should I do if a company doesn't respond to my deletion request?

If a company doesn't respond within 45 days:

Send a follow-up request via certified mail
Document the non-response with screenshots and dates
File a complaint with the Washington Attorney General
Consider using GhostMyData to automate follow-ups

Non-response is a violation of washington privacy rights and the Attorney General can take enforcement action.

Will removing my data affect my ability to use services?

No. Washington privacy rights explicitly prohibit discrimination based on exercising your privacy rights. Companies cannot:

Deny you service
Charge different prices
Provide lower quality service
Threaten account closure

If a company retaliates for requesting data removal, that's illegal and you should report it to the Washington Attorney General.

Take Control of Your Digital Privacy Today

Your personal information is yours to control. Under Washington's strong privacy laws, including the MHPDA and data broker regulations, you have the explicit right to know what data exists about you and to demand its removal.

However, exercising these rights manually is challenging. Between identifying data brokers, submitting individual requests, tracking responses, and following up on non-compliance, the process can take dozens of hours.

GhostMyData removes this burden. Our automated service handles the entire process of removing your data under washington privacy rights, ensuring you don't miss deadlines or requirements. We document everything, follow up on non-compliant companies, and provide verification that your data has actually been removed.

Start your free scan today to see which companies have your information. Then let GhostMyData handle the rest—automatically, completely, and compliantly.

Your privacy matters. Let's protect it.