How long does Europol retain data before transferring it, and can retention periods be challenged?

Europol must review the necessity of continued data storage at least every three years, with specific categories subject to shorter review periods. Data must be deleted once it is no longer necessary for the task that justified its processing. You can challenge retention by demonstrating that the underlying investigation has concluded, that your data is no longer relevant, or that retention periods have been exceeded without proper review. Successful challenges typically require obtaining Europol’s internal review documentation through subject access requests, which must be fulfilled within three months of application.