A recent survey by EY showed that 60 percent of professionals reported an increase in DSARs over the past year, with over half expressing dissatisfaction with how their organizations handled them.
So, what does this signal for businesses today? It means that managing a data access subject request efficiently is more crucial than ever to maintain trust and meet legal obligations.
Join us as we take a closer look at why these requests have evolved so rapidly, how AI is reshaping the data access process, and strategies for streamlining compliance with data requests.
The Rise of Modern Privacy Laws
Modern privacy laws reshaped how organizations handle the data access process. There are a few important ways these laws changed the picture:
- Broader rights for individuals across different regions
- Higher demands for data request management and response speed
- A global influence on other countries and industries
Broader Rights for Individuals
The GDPR in the European Union and the CCPA in California expanded what a person can request. These laws gave people more control, including the right to see, correct, or delete their personal data. The shift forced organizations to think more carefully about their data access process and what records they store.
Higher Demands for Management and Speed
Under these laws, organizations must respond within set timelines. They often have only weeks to fulfill a request. It puts pressure on data request management systems and requires better tracking and coordination between departments.
Global Influence on Other Countries and Industries
The reach of these laws goes beyond their borders. Many countries have adopted similar rules, and even organizations not based in those regions often follow the same standards. This has led to more consistent approaches to compliance with data requests worldwide.
How the Digital Shift Changed the Data Access Process
The move from paper records to online systems transformed how organizations handle the data access process. This shift created faster ways to collect and store information, but it also made the work of finding and preparing data more complicated.
There are three main ways the digital shift changed this process:
- The move from manual to technology-driven systems
- The new challenges of cloud platforms and software services
- The need for better tracking and verification methods
The Move from Manual to Technology-Driven Systems
Before digital systems became common, most requests meant sorting through filing cabinets or basic computer files. As technology advanced, information spread across databases, customer portals, and shared drives. It helped speed up retrieval but required new skills and better tools for data request management.
The New Challenges of Cloud Platforms and Software Services
Organizations now store data across different services and often across different countries. A single record might live in several places at once. This makes it harder to pull together a full and accurate response to a request while still following privacy rules.
The Need for Better Tracking and Verification Methods
With more data sources and more movement of information, tracking each step of the process has become essential. Organizations need ways to confirm that the right data has been found, reviewed, and sent to the correct person. Improving data access handling now depends on both the technology and the people managing it.
AI's Role in Transforming DSAR Handling
AI tools are becoming a bigger part of how organizations handle data request management. They can help speed up the data access process, reduce manual work, and improve accuracy in certain steps. At the same time, these tools raise new questions about privacy and oversight.
There are four main ways AI is changing the way organizations respond to requests:
- Automating identity verification and data searches
- Using language technology to sort and interpret requests
- Predicting delays and problem areas before they happen
- Balancing automation with human review for accuracy and fairness
Automating Identity Verification and Data Searches
AI can confirm a requester's identity faster by checking multiple data points, such as past activity or account details. It can also search across many systems to locate the right records, which helps speed up the early stages of a request.
Using Language Technology to Sort and Interpret Requests
Some requests are unclear or mix several questions together. Language-based tools can scan a request and separate it into specific tasks. This helps organizations respond to each part of a request in an organized way.
Predicting Delays and Problem Areas Before They Happen
By reviewing past requests, AI can spot patterns that often lead to missed deadlines or incomplete data. It lets teams adjust their process before small issues grow into bigger problems.
Balancing Automation With Human Review for Accuracy and Fairness
Even with strong technology, human review is still important. Staff need to confirm that the right data has been collected and that the response meets compliance with data requests. The balance helps avoid mistakes and builds trust with the requester.
Challenges in the AI Era
AI systems can make mistakes when processing requests, especially if they rely on patterns from incomplete or unbalanced data. This can lead to missing or incorrect information in the response. Regular testing and review are needed to keep the data access process accurate.
AI tools often need to scan large amounts of personal data to find the right records. This can raise questions about how that data is stored, who can access it, and how long it remains in the system. Improving data access handling means setting clear rules for these steps.
Laws are beginning to address how AI can be used in data requests. Organizations must track these updates and adjust their subject request strategies to stay compliant. This can require changes to both technology and staff training.
Data Access Subject Request
Managing a data access subject request has grown more complex with expanding laws and new technology. AI offers faster responses, but care is needed to protect privacy and accuracy.
Get in touch today to find out how we can help with your DASR needs.
