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How do I permanently delete my account?

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Re: How do I permanently delete my account?

#81

Post by Mz »

a254613e wrote: post #73

It's kinda ironic that all the people here are complaining that facebook might not actually really delete literally every single bit of information that you have, while hacker news doesn't allow you to edit your comments, delete them, or delete your profile. This sort of functionality should exist on every platform that even has accounts. Does anyone know if GDPR (or similar law in the future) will actually force HN…

If you have left a lot of personal information on Facebook, it is kind of the nature of the beast. They require your real name. They ask lots of personal details upon sign up. The profile grills you about your entire life, from where you were born to where you went to school to where you live and work.

HN does none of that. So, to me, it seems like a really different situation.

Re: How do I permanently delete my account?

#82

Post by Antrikshy »

grumpopotamus wrote: post #72

I went through all the steps to "permanently" delete my account in 2010, did not log in for 4 years, then tried to see what would happen, and my account and all its data was fully restored.

That was in 2010. As someone pointed out, this is likely meant to comply with this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Data_Protection_Regula...

The law goes into effect in May 2018.

Re: How do I permanently delete my account?

#83

Post by Veratyr »

justhw wrote: post #17

How do we really know that this is actual deletion and not a deleted="true" in their databases? > It is inaccessible to other people using Facebook. The wording does sound very convincing but I really don't think we can just believe their word. After all it's Facebook.

From their terms (https://www.facebook.com/terms.php):

"This IP License ends when you delete your IP content or your account unless your content has been shared with others, and they have not deleted it."

"When you delete IP content, it is deleted in a manner similar to emptying the recycle bin on a computer. However, you understand that removed content may persist in backup copies for a reasonable period of time (but will not be available to others)."

This sounds like they properly delete it but only so long as you haven't given another user a copy of it (such as sending a message perhaps).

Also while the US has essentially no privacy protections whatsoever, I don't think a "deleted=true" would fly under EU regulations.

Re: How do I permanently delete my account?

#86

Post by justboxing »

Not defending facebook, but almost every social site these days, and even SaaS applications, make it impossible to DELETE your account out of their systems.

Unless laws are passed in the US to force their hand, this sort of behaviour will continue.

Anything and everything you post on the internet, is FOREVER.

Because chances are some dev somewhere has simply flipped an IsDeleted bit to true / 1 in the site's database :)

Re: How do I permanently delete my account?

#87

Post by e12e »

Buge wrote: post #56
imustbeevil wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, they can show you ads that don't use your data. You'd have to allow them to use your data to give you better ads, but you'd just get worse ads in the meantime.

So I need to explicitly accept targeted ads from every company that shows targeted ads? Does this mean every website that shows targeted ads, or can a blanket large provider (e.g. Google) get a single consent and apply it to all websites hosting Google ads? This seems like it would give a market advantage to Google, because they have products that people want and can likely get a fair number of people to consent if t…

> And how does this apply to logs? It's common for web servers by default to record urls visited and IP addresses. Would that be legal without explicit consent?

I'm not certain on the details, but in eg Norway that is already much in line with the GDPR ip addresses are considered personal data, and as such regulated. However, there are provisions for storing such information for auditing purposes (both security, technical and financial/invoicing) - but would likely require explicit consent. ("i accept"/"i will not use this service" - more of an informational confirmation - like signs stating a shop is under camera surveillance - and you could choose not to shop the (even if: good luck finding a shop w/o surveillance cameras)).

In general "personal data" is anything that can significantly help identify a single individual (time/place, ip, phone number/date, address, full name, email, etc).

Ed: regarding logging ips for auditing - there's usually a fixed time limit. It's longest afaik for financial purposes (and the data storage directive explicitly states/stated minimum duration - effectively being lobbied into a tool to go after amateur copyright infringement by forcing isps to keep records longer than before). But from a data protection viewpoint, you can't say/get consent for "we log for auditing" and then keep the data indefinitely . More like 6 or 12 months.

Re: How do I permanently delete my account?

#88

Post by iamthirsty »

e12e wrote: post #78
a254613e wrote: post #73

It's kinda ironic that all the people here are complaining that facebook might not actually really delete literally every single bit of information that you have, while hacker news doesn't allow you to edit your comments, delete them, or delete your profile. This sort of functionality should exist on every platform that even has accounts. Does anyone know if GDPR (or similar law in the future) will actually force HN…

> Does anyone know if GDPR (or similar law in the future) will actually force HN and other sites that don't have this feature, to remove accounts, at least EU ones, upon request? As far as I know, the GDPR is more of a clarification (along with some explicit guidelines for fines), than it is new legislation - so hn and similar sites would already be in breach, if they didn't allow the deletion of all profile data. I'…

HN will not delete your account via email or any other means.

I was told — via email — this functionality would be coming in the future, but it’s been about six months and nothing yet.

Re: How do I permanently delete my account?

#89

Post by tscs37 »

Klathmon wrote: post #74
asdfgadsfgasfdg wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is a similar concept to export of physical goods into a country/trade block. Either comply with the local regulations on quality or your goods will not be allowed. The US State Department does not really get to have a stated position other than diplomatic.

Who will be responsible for the "blocking"? Will I as a developer or US business owner need to proactively disallow all users from outside the US (since I am not familiar with their laws) to avoid potential legal troubles, or will other countries block my site/service without me needing to do anything?

It depends on whether or not you are operating under their jurisdiction or not.

If you are, they can drag you to court. End of story.

If you aren't then they will first rely on your cooperation and if that doesn't work, probably issue arrest orders which will make it a bit inconvenient to enter the EU for a while. And they'll probably tell ISPs to block you, yeah.

Re: How do I permanently delete my account?

#90

Post by e12e »

BigJono wrote: post #57
djrogers wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Watch how you use those words - if one defines ‘better’ and ‘worse’ in the context of my privacy, then ads that don’t do creepy things are better.

Is there anything inherently bad about a site using your data to serve you more relevant ads, as long as your data is not passed on to a 3rd party?

I'd say that highly targeted ads are harmful, as it's more likely to undermine the viewer (eg: political ads tweaked based on current family situation/emergencies derived from data mining). Eg: target people who recently lost loved ones to an attack by one of our times typical "lone gunmen" by ads advertising increased surveillance as a way to mitigate "terrorist" attacks.

Or substituting in first names of friends in paid content (" give the following reasons to vote x!/buy this").

Not to mention that if advertising works - then it undermines the idea of a free marked where purchases are made by informed independent agents (I think that's a fantasy anyway, but it seems to be a somewhat popular idea).

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