Data Deletion Instructions
Learn how to request deletion of your personal data from PostBeacon
At PostBeacon, we respect your right to control your personal information. Under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPI Act) of South Africa, you have the right to request deletion of your personal data. This page explains how to submit a data deletion request and what happens during the process.
What Information Will Be Deleted?
When you request data deletion, we will remove the following information:
- Account Information: Name, email address, phone number, profile photo, and account credentials
- Content Data: Scheduled posts, drafts, uploaded images and media files
- Social Media Connections: OAuth tokens and connection details to your social media accounts
- Analytics Data: Historical performance data and insights specific to your account
- Usage Data: Activity logs, preferences, and settings
- Billing Information: Payment history and invoices (subject to legal retention requirements)
What Information May Be Retained?
Some information may be retained for legal, security, or operational purposes:
- Legal Compliance: Transaction records required by South African tax laws (retained for 5 years)
- Security & Fraud Prevention: Logs needed to investigate or prevent fraudulent activity
- Dispute Resolution: Information related to pending legal claims or disputes
- Aggregated Data: Anonymized, non-personally identifiable data used for analytics
- Backup Systems: Data may persist in backup systems for up to 180 days before permanent deletion
How to Request Data Deletion
Method 1: Self-Service Account Deletion
The fastest way to delete your data is through your PostBeacon account:
- Log in to your PostBeacon account at postbeacon.co.za
- Navigate to Settings → Account Settings
- Scroll to the Danger Zone section
- Click “Delete Account”
- Confirm your decision and provide a reason (optional)
- Enter your password to authorize the deletion
- Click “Permanently Delete My Account”
Note: This action is immediate and cannot be undone. All active subscriptions will be cancelled.
Method 2: Email Request
If you cannot access your account or prefer email, send a deletion request to:
📧 Email: privacy@postbeacon.co.za
Subject: Data Deletion Request
Include the following in your email:
- Your full name (as registered)
- Email address associated with your account
- Reason for deletion (optional)
- Any additional account identifiers (username, company name)
Method 3: Social Media Account Data Deletion
If you connected PostBeacon through Facebook, Instagram, or other social platforms, you can also request deletion through their platforms:
- Go to your Facebook/Instagram Settings & Privacy
- Navigate to Apps and Websites
- Find PostBeacon and click Remove
- Select “Delete all your activities”
This revokes PostBeacon’s access and triggers data deletion on our end within 30 days.
Data Deletion Timeline
1
Request Received (Day 0)
We receive and acknowledge your deletion request within 24 hours.
2
Identity Verification (Days 1-3)
We verify your identity to prevent unauthorized deletions. You may be asked to confirm via email.
3
Account Deactivation (Day 3-7)
Your account is deactivated and you can no longer access PostBeacon.
4
Data Deletion (Days 7-30)
Your personal data is permanently deleted from our active systems within 30 days of your request.
5
Backup Purge (Days 30-180)
Data is removed from backup systems over the next 180 days as backups expire.
✓
Confirmation (Within 30 Days)
You receive email confirmation once deletion is complete.
Important Considerations Before Deleting
⚠️ Before You Delete Your Account
- Action is Permanent: Once deleted, your account and data cannot be recovered
- Active Subscriptions: Any active paid subscriptions will be cancelled (no refunds for remaining time)
- Scheduled Posts: All scheduled posts will be cancelled and not published
- Team Access: If you’re part of a team, other members may lose access to shared content
- Connected Accounts: You’ll need to manually revoke PostBeacon’s access on social media platforms
- Download Your Data: Consider exporting your data before deletion (see Data Export section)
Alternative Options to Deletion
If you’re not ready for permanent deletion, consider these alternatives:
🔒 Deactivate Account
Temporarily suspend your account without deleting data. You can reactivate later.
⬇️ Downgrade Plan
Switch to a free plan to reduce costs while keeping your data.
🔌 Disconnect Accounts
Remove specific social media connections without deleting your entire account.
📦 Export Data
Download a copy of your data to keep for your records before making any changes.
How to Export Your Data Before Deletion
We recommend exporting your data before requesting deletion:
- Log in to PostBeacon
- Go to Settings → Privacy & Data
- Click “Download My Data”
- Select the data types you want (posts, analytics, account info)
- Click “Request Export”
- You’ll receive a download link via email within 24-48 hours
The export includes all your content, scheduled posts, analytics reports, and account information in JSON/CSV format.
Need Help or Have Questions?
Our team is here to assist you with data deletion requests or answer any privacy-related questions.
Privacy Inquiries
General Support
Website
Response Time
⏱️ Within 30 days (POPI Act requirement)
Your Rights Under POPI Act
In addition to data deletion, you have these rights under South African law:
- Right to Access: Request a copy of all personal data we hold about you
- Right to Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate information
- Right to Object: Object to certain types of data processing
- Right to Restriction: Limit how we use your data under certain circumstances
- Right to Data Portability: Receive your data in a machine-readable format
- Right to Complain: Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa
For more information about your privacy rights, see our Privacy Policy.
Contact the Information Regulator
If you’re not satisfied with how we handle your data deletion request, you can contact:
Information Regulator (South Africa)
JD House, 27 Stiemens Street
Braamfontein, Johannesburg, 2001
P.O Box 31533, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, 2017
📧 Email: inforeg@justice.gov.za
🌐 Website: www.justice.gov.za/inforeg