What rights do consumers have concerning their personal data?

Consumers have the right to access, correct, and delete their personal information held by companies, which is a fundamental aspect of data privacy and protection. This right empowers individuals to know what personal data companies have collected about them, make changes if that information is inaccurate, and request the removal of their data when it is no longer needed or desired.

This concept is central to various data protection regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in the United States. These laws are designed to enhance consumer control over personal data, ensuring that they can manage their information actively rather than passively allowing companies to handle it without transparency or accountability.

The other options do not accurately reflect consumer rights in the context of personal data protection. Selling personal data at any time is not a broadly recognized consumer right and raises concerns over consent. The notion of keeping data indefinitely without responsibility contradicts the principles of data minimization and purpose limitation found in most data protection laws. Lastly, preventing all data collection entirely is not practical or realistic, as some data collection is necessary for providing services or conducting business, although consumers do have rights regarding how their data is used and shared.