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Dumped by Google

lastwordonnothing.com

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Re: Dumped by Google

#11
post #8

Definitely a reason I have always paid for Gmail/Drive before it was that. But the actual reason is quite scary why it triggered the issue: "My data was intact save for the last thing I’d worked on–a spreadsheet containing a client’s account numbers and passwords. It seems that Google’s engineers determined this single document violated policy and locked down my entire account. My request to get that document back is…

If this file is indeed the cause of the account closure... what happens if you're using a Chromebook? Then not only do you loose access to that computer, you are restricted to what kind of content you can create and store on your computer.

I hope this gentleman is wrong. I really do.

Re: Dumped by Google

#12
I would really, sincerely, love to reply with my opinion on this, what seems by the title at least, wonderful article. But unfortunately people do not seem to have decent enough of a hosting provider and/or server to survive the outcome of getting on the front page of HN and hence I am forced to see "Error establishing a database connection".

Re: Dumped by Google

#15
post #10

Of course the author preformed daily backups to removable media and other cloud based services? Let this be a lesson. Data redundancy is important!

Is there a tool to backup your google everything?

If there isn't then what you're doing is called "taunting".

Re: Dumped by Google

#16
post #3

Same as every other “cloud provider”, yet somehow Google is the one subjected to these overwritten accounts and the almost mandatory pseudo law/policy musings that follow. You might want to take a look at some policies from others in the industry to get a more accurate picture of this landscape. These policies are constructed as such to mitigate litigation, which the author concedes. Regardless I'm glad this instance…

Facebook gets its amount of beating too.

Those too should be very careful to not get regulated by an angry mob. I'd say well deserved.

Re: Dumped by Google

#17

I can't access the article. Can anyone tell shortly, what the author is complaining about?

Google closed his Google Account including Gmail, Google Drive, Google Calender etc. without notice and without explanation. After 6 days he got it back after a google employee he knows personally escalated the case internally.

Re: Dumped by Google

#18
post #3

Same as every other “cloud provider”, yet somehow Google is the one subjected to these overwritten accounts and the almost mandatory pseudo law/policy musings that follow. You might want to take a look at some policies from others in the industry to get a more accurate picture of this landscape. These policies are constructed as such to mitigate litigation, which the author concedes. Regardless I'm glad this instance…

There is a need to decentralize email, social networking, cloud storage etc. FreedomBox is a step in the right direction. So is Diaspora Project.

Re: Dumped by Google

#19
post #10

Of course the author preformed daily backups to removable media and other cloud based services? Let this be a lesson. Data redundancy is important!

Is there a tool to backup your google everything? If there isn't then what you're doing is called "taunting".

You can download some of your Google data using Google Takeout. It’s far from complete, but if you’re still using Google services, it doesn’t hurt to download a backup once in a while.

The Data Liberation Front lists which services can be backed up, and how to do it: http://www.dataliberation.org/

Re: Dumped by Google

#20
I think what's even more horrifying that isn't mentioned in the article is how many services use email as a form of user authentication.

If you lose access to your gmail account, you also lose access to changing your password on any service that makes you do so through an email link - I know of some services that don't even let you change your account email without clicking on an email authentication link.

So not only is there the always-lingering possibility of losing your google account to automated shutdowns, you can also lose access to services that you use that use authentication through email, quite an uneasy thought.

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