CCPA Removal Requests
Can I request the deletion of messages I sent to my co-parent through BestInterest?
Under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), you have the right to request the deletion of your personal information that is stored by businesses. However, once a message is sent to your co-parent through BestInterest, it becomes part of their account data, which they control.
The CCPA defines “personal information” as data that “identifies, relates to, describes, is reasonably capable of being associated with, or could reasonably be linked, directly or indirectly, with a particular consumer or household” (Cal. Civ. Code § 1798.140(o)(1)). Messages you send are considered personal information, but once sent, they are part of the recipient’s account data and are no longer solely yours.
Why can’t you delete messages I sent to my co-parent?
The CCPA includes exceptions to the right to delete personal data. According to Cal. Civ. Code § 1798.105(d), a business is not required to delete personal information if it is necessary to:
“Complete the transaction for which the personal information was collected,” or
“Provide a good or service requested by the consumer.”
Messages sent to your co-parent fall under this exception, as they are necessary to deliver the communication services that your co-parent uses. This is akin to when you send a message to the owner of a Google Voice or Verizon phone number. The data is processed by the business in question and owned by the end user you sent it to. In some cases, it may be stored.
What are my options if I want my messages deleted?
All BestInterest users have the option to delete their accounts. If your co-parent chooses to delete their BestInterest account, all account data, including messages from their coparent, will be permanently deleted. This aligns with Cal. Civ. Code § 1798.105(a), which allows consumers to request the deletion of their data.
Our policy is to not allow individual messages to be deleted however, which is in line with the policies of other leading coparenting apps. You can read more about this policy here.
Can I delete any data associated with my use of BestInterest?
Yes! If you have your own account with BestInterest, you can request the deletion of your account and all associated data. This will remove your personal information from our systems, as provided for under Cal. Civ. Code § 1798.105(a).
What personal data is stored about me when I message my coparent?
If you are not a BestInterest user, no data about your message, your device, or any other personally identifiable information is stored after processing. We store:
The message content itself.
The provider’s message ID, which is not personally identifiable information (PII) but used to identify the SMS message if needed for provider troubleshooting and status updates.
The timestamp of when the message was received.
How can I ensure that my data is handled appropriately?
We are committed to transparency and respecting your privacy. If you have concerns about how your data is handled, you can review the full text of the CCPA here or review our privacy policy. To read more about our security policies with regards to message and data storage, please read this article.
What if I have more questions about the CCPA/CPRA?
Please see the California CPPA website.