Welp I guess this is the perfect example of companies not deleting your credentials and account info when asking for it... I deleted my Notion account several years ago. And completely randomly today got an email from them about data retention, assuming this is one of those "important" emails they have to send out. Sadly, years ago I wasnt using email-aliases like I am today, so still stuck with them having my email. Fuck I hate this so much. Thought I'd just share this lesson, use alises my friends!
When you ask them to delete your account they should delete your account. There is no excuse for them to have your contact information if you dont have an account with them
Often what happens is that when you sign up they also make an API call to their email list service. Then when you delete your account they remove you from their DB but often forget to remove you from the other services. This obviously isn't acceptable but often not intentional.
In Europe you have to opt in to newsletters. Companies are not even allowed to have the opt in field pre checked!
You activelly need to tick the opt in check box.
This is also true in lots of places like Canada and (IIUC) California. But very frequently it doesn't happen. In Canada you can report it but then nothing happens.
Except the email in question is not a newsletter. Companies often use separate mail list services for important product announcements and similar things as well. Obviously there should be a process in place that removes you from these external services too when you delete your account, but I assume this is what broke down in this case
I have a hard time believing they actually delete anything.