---
title: Contact Anonymization
slug: en/contact-anonymization
createdAt: 2024-08-12T11:49:42.487Z
---

How can I fully, partially, or not anonymize contacts when deleting them?

***

Under GDPR, a visitor can request that their data be erased. This can be *incidental* (a specific visitor requests their data to be deleted), or *policy-based* (for example, the privacy statement may state that data from visitors who have not attended an event for 5 years or more will be deleted). ticketmatic supports this requirement by offering the option to anonymize contacts.

# Which contacts should you anonymize?

This will primarily depend on your policy. In most cases, this is after a certain period (such as 5 years) of inactivity of a contact. We usually define inactivity as 'no purchases made'.

::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/zGnEynQy6cgPdn1J1kZsn/lnQLaceEd8qUGgG0ydVbl_tutorial-contacts-anonimiseren-en-2.png" size="40" isUploading="false" position="center" width="242" height="44" darkWidth="242" darkHeight="44" showCaption="false"}

Still, there are a number of other parameters you should carefully review before anonymizing contacts in bulk:

- **Has the customer received a ticket via the app?** This person may not be an active ticket buyer, but is an active visitor.

::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/zGnEynQy6cgPdn1J1kZsn/D3CN0kt3e7YKMGB0ZR46p_tutorial-contacts-anonimiseren-en-3.png" size="70" isUploading="false" position="center" width="500" height="44" darkWidth="500" darkHeight="44" showCaption="false"}

- **Does the customer have an opt-in?** This person may never buy tickets themselves, but through a partner, friend, or acquaintance. Even so, they should keep receiving the newsletter to stay informed. Note: anonymizing a contact automatically unsubscribes them from the newsletter. If you don't want this, filter these contacts out beforehand.

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/zGnEynQy6cgPdn1J1kZsn/YVurhE6aspIk8wkVnW48w_tutorial-contacts-anonimiseren-en-4.png)

- **Does the customer have a specific relation type?** Some customers are registered in Ticketmatic as sponsor, partner, or press. These are not people who purchase tickets, but they are still contacts worth keeping in your database.

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/zGnEynQy6cgPdn1J1kZsn/-1xENsUkcc8bKXIF_5YHd_tutorial-contacts-anonimiseren-en-5.png)

- **Does the customer have an active waiting list request** (for a future event)? In this case, it may be important to keep the customer for any future updates.

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/zGnEynQy6cgPdn1J1kZsn/jJfU7EqahKiXxuXmfYdlR_tutorial-contacts-anonimiseren-en-6.png)

- **Does the customer still have an outstanding credit?** In that case, it's usually not advisable to anonymize this contact.

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/zGnEynQy6cgPdn1J1kZsn/TQG1hpirunfqHntKPbYhc_tutorial-contacts-anonimiseren-en-7.png)

:::hint{type="info"}
These parameters are suggestions. It's possible that not all of them apply to your account, or that there are additional parameters you should take into account.
:::

# How does it work?

Anonymization is a feature applied when *deleting* contacts. In the **Account Parameters**, you can configure what should happen when contacts are deleted. There are three options:

- ***fully anonymize*** : **All contact data** is deleted
- ***partially anonymize*** : **Salutation and birth year** are retained for marketing purposes; all other data is deleted
- ***do not anonymize*** : Contact data is **retained** (default setting)

For all of the above options, the **orders** associated with these contacts will be retained.

:::hint{type="info"}
Not sure which anonymization setting applies to your account, or would you like to change it? Contact [support@ticketmatic.com](mailto\:support@ticketmatic.com)
:::

:::hint{type="danger"}
⚠️ Anonymizing is a permanent action. Once carried out, it cannot be undone. If you do this in bulk, you must be 100% certain that your selection is correct. We therefore recommend that, once your selection is ready, you take a sample of a few contacts and double-check that they actually meet the criteria or parameters you set.
:::

You can anonymize records as follows:

1. Go to **Public** > **Contacts**.
2. Select the desired filter.
3. Bulk-select the contacts.
4. Go to **Actions** > Delete contacts.

::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/zGnEynQy6cgPdn1J1kZsn/SilCDquXzGW4-1O2f6QAP_tutorial-contacts-anonimiseren-en-1.png" size="30" isUploading="false" position="center" width="234" height="281" darkWidth="234" darkHeight="281" showCaption="false"}

This is a manual process and cannot be automated.

:::hint{type="info"}
Using the filter 'last order between', you can easily filter out contacts who have not purchased tickets in the last 3 or 5 years from your contact list. All the parameters listed above can be included in your selection via filters. If the filter you need isn't available, contact support (support\@ticketmatic.com).
:::