Data Privacy Trends Report 2025

DataGrail’s Annual Data Privacy Trends Report

Data privacy is evolving globally, driven by shifting political and digital landscapes and accelerated by rapid AI adoption. As consumers become increasingly aware of online privacy risks like data breaches, selling of personal data, online tracking, identity theft, and the irresponsible use of AI, stricter data privacy laws are being enacted to reflect these growing concerns.

As regulations tighten in response to these concerns, organizations are under increasing pressure not just to comply, but to prove they are handling data responsibly. Many brands face heightened scrutiny, particularly around how they manage consumer opt-out requests, with many either unaware of or sidestepping consumer requests. This has led to a surge in privacy-related litigation, especially in regions and states with strong legal protections. Looking ahead, the global conversation will likely focus on harmonizing the patchwork of state laws and fragmented regulations in each region with international privacy standards to address the complex challenges posed by emerging technologies like AI.

DataGrail's 2025 Data Privacy Trends Report sheds light on how these evolving privacy concerns are impacting organizations, offering benchmarks to track changes in privacy trends over time. This year's report reveals key trends, including the volume and types of Data Subject Requests (DSRs) received (surprise: a new trend is emerging) and the increasing cost of handling privacy requests due to manual processing (no surprise: costs continue to climb).