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AI Governance Glossary
Governance Concept

What Is Right to Object?

Right to Object is under the GDPR, the right of a data subject to object, on grounds relating to their situation, to the processing of their personal data in certain circumstances — including processing based on legitimate interests and processing for direct marketing or profiling.

Definition

Right to Objectunder the GDPR, the right of a data subject to object, on grounds relating to their situation, to the processing of their personal data in certain circumstances — including processing based on legitimate interests and processing for direct marketing or profiling.

Where processing relies on legitimate-interest or public-task grounds, individuals can object, and the organisation must stop unless it shows compelling legitimate grounds that override the person's interests. For profiling and AI-driven personalisation, an easy and effective way to object is something regulators increasingly expect to see.

Source: GDPR (Regulation (EU) 2016/679), Article 21

Plain-language explanation

Where processing relies on legitimate-interest or public-task grounds, individuals can object, and the organisation must stop unless it shows compelling legitimate grounds that override the person's interests. For profiling and AI-driven personalisation, an easy and effective way to object is something regulators increasingly expect to see.

Primary source: GDPR (Regulation (EU) 2016/679), Article 21

Related terms

Data Subject Rights Automated Decision-Making (ADM) Right to Erasure Profiling

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