The right to object provided for in Article 21 gives any person the possibility of objecting, for reasons relating to his or her particular situation, to being included in a file, and of refusing, without having to provide any justification, that the data concerning him or her be used for the purposes of commercial canvassing.
Objections may be made in writing or verbally.
This right to object is not systematic and does not apply in all data collection situations. For example, in the context of processing required under employment law, pension management, invoicing or tax law.
Furthermore, if the controller demonstrates that there are compelling and legitimate grounds for the processing which override the interests and rights and freedoms of the data subject, then the controller may refuse the request to exercise the right to object (e.g. legal proceedings).
If the request to object is valid, the data controller will have one month to respond to any request made.