Contact deletion automation?

Possibly. The first step I suspect would be the need to add embedded data within your contacts that tracks the 'date added'. So adding an embedded data variable such as 'addedDate, 2018'.
Then within a contact trigger of a survey (or an XM Directory task if you have XM Directory subscription) you could check for the contacts with embedded data matching your year or timestamp or whatever you want to filter on, then update those contact records through the trigger/task. If you only have the contact trigger route then you would need to setup a scheduled task to create a survey response for the survey containing the contact trigger (a rather convoluted way to reach your goal).

Hi Patrick
Thanks so much for taking the time to give this one some consideration!
I think that sounds like a good suggestion on finding the correct records to delete.
Are you aware of an automated 'delete' function in the XM Directory? Or is that still a 'press the button' task?
Thanks
Tracey

That's great! Thank you - I'll check this out.
Tracey

https://www.qualtrics.com/community/discussion/comment/26784#Comment_26784TomG , is an API the only way to automate this?

https://www.qualtrics.com/community/discussion/comment/27355#Comment_27355As far as I know.

@TomG Hi Tom, how would I use this in bulk? It seems this API is for one contact at a time?

You would write a web script that loops through the results returned by the search and do a delete API call for each contact returned. 

Hey @TomG if I delete contacts like this, will it delete their responses ? I just want to delete contact but keep the responces

It will not delete survey responses.

Instead of working with any API, the contact deletion policy could be considered.

https://www.qualtrics.com/support/survey-platform/sp-administration/data-privacy-tab/data-retention/#ContactPolicy

@chackbusch That's great! Thank you.Is there a way to delete responces to just one or a few questions (not all responces) within a survey?

   Contact deletion policy will be applicable on brand level, which will also delete your employee data from employee directory if you have employee experience program in place. not recommended if you only want to do this for specific project like candidate experience.