Live data from Hacker News

Slack just wiped out our data overnight

medium.com

1–10 of 35 posts

Re: Slack just wiped out our data overnight

#2
> If Slack has to comply with the export control law, they also need to comply with GDPR.

Slack is an American company, GDPR is a EU law and OP is Iranian. That’s not how this works... Sure companies that operate within the EU have created tools to export your data automatically (they still have contact points to request the same data if you don’t have an account or were banned so can’t use the automated tools) so they opened those tools up to everyone not just those within the EU. But that doesn’t mean you are covered by the EU law and can demand your data. Only thing I would suggest is to lookup the GDPR email for slack and manually request the data. Though I wouldn’t expect anything.

US companies are forbidden from doing business with Iran, US company discovered it was, closed down the account and refuses to continue that business relationship by handing over data.

So sounds like standard policy to me. It would be like me getting banned off a game because I broke TOS (because OP did break TOS, it’s pretty much boilerplate and they have experienced this before so it’s not like they were not aware) and getting pissed off that I can not access my chat history any longer.

OP was on borrowed time from the beginning.

Does it suck? Sure it does. But what else you going to expect? For them to explicitly break the law after they discovered they were already in violation and took the steps needed to come under compliance because you didn’t read ToS, or (with them admitting this isn’t the first time they have got dinged by this law, probably the more likely) wilfully choose to ignore them.

Re: Slack just wiped out our data overnight

#3

> If Slack has to comply with the export control law, they also need to comply with GDPR. Slack is an American company, GDPR is a EU law and OP is Iranian. That’s not how this works... Sure companies that operate within the EU have created tools to export your data automatically (they still have contact points to request the same data if you don’t have an account or were banned so can’t use the automated tools) so th…

And what about other users who aren't breaking the law? Like me, who has been living in the US since 2011?

These bans with no appeal processes are absolutely stupid. See my submissions for more context, but its helluva lot more people than a single incident. They seem to be banning anyone who sounds Iranian.

Re: Slack just wiped out our data overnight

#4

> If Slack has to comply with the export control law, they also need to comply with GDPR. Slack is an American company, GDPR is a EU law and OP is Iranian. That’s not how this works... Sure companies that operate within the EU have created tools to export your data automatically (they still have contact points to request the same data if you don’t have an account or were banned so can’t use the automated tools) so th…

> by handing over data.

Except that they did not hand over the data. They just closed the account.

Plus, there is no mention of complying with US sanctions in ToS.

Overall, they could easily send a notice to take action (export data) before closing the accounts. It was their fault to allow companies build their trust in slack and it was their mistake not to follow the rules in the first place.

Re: Slack just wiped out our data overnight

#5
post #3

> If Slack has to comply with the export control law, they also need to comply with GDPR. Slack is an American company, GDPR is a EU law and OP is Iranian. That’s not how this works... Sure companies that operate within the EU have created tools to export your data automatically (they still have contact points to request the same data if you don’t have an account or were banned so can’t use the automated tools) so th…

And what about other users who aren't breaking the law? Like me, who has been living in the US since 2011? These bans with no appeal processes are absolutely stupid. See my submissions for more context, but its helluva lot more people than a single incident. They seem to be banning anyone who sounds Iranian.

Op’s Post talks about how they are inside Iran. So in this case I still say it’s a valid account termination.

If you are not accessing the service from Iran and you get dinged, contact support, supply supporting evidence and they will restore the account.

This isn’t Slack picking on Iranians, this is “if slack don’t do this, they can get into a whole help of trouble”. I’m sure some people are going to get dinged by mistake but I honestly doubt they are banning people because of how their name sounds.

Re: Slack just wiped out our data overnight

#6
post #4

> If Slack has to comply with the export control law, they also need to comply with GDPR. Slack is an American company, GDPR is a EU law and OP is Iranian. That’s not how this works... Sure companies that operate within the EU have created tools to export your data automatically (they still have contact points to request the same data if you don’t have an account or were banned so can’t use the automated tools) so th…

> by handing over data. Except that they did not hand over the data. They just closed the account. Plus, there is no mention of complying with US sanctions in ToS. Overall, they could easily send a notice to take action (export data) before closing the accounts. It was their fault to allow companies build their trust in slack and it was their mistake not to follow the rules in the first place.

I mean they are not handing over data as that could be seen as still allowing access to the service and being in violation of the sanctions.

> Plus, there is no mention of complying with US sanctions in ToS.

https://slack.com/acceptable-use-policy

Under the “Do” section > comply with all applicable laws and governmental regulations, including, but not limited to, all intellectual property, data, privacy, and _export control laws_, and regulations promulgated by any government agencies, including, but not limited to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and any rules of any national and other securities exchanges;

I’m on mobile atm, but I’m sure if I looked into the full legal copy of their terms I would find more.

Re: Slack just wiped out our data overnight

#7
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And what about other users who aren't breaking the law? Like me, who has been living in the US since 2011? These bans with no appeal processes are absolutely stupid. See my submissions for more context, but its helluva lot more people than a single incident. They seem to be banning anyone who sounds Iranian.

Op’s Post talks about how they are inside Iran. So in this case I still say it’s a valid account termination. If you are not accessing the service from Iran and you get dinged, contact support, supply supporting evidence and they will restore the account. This isn’t Slack picking on Iranians, this is “if slack don’t do this, they can get into a whole help of trouble”. I’m sure some people are going to get dinged by m…

I've never even used Slack in Iran and my name sounds Iranian. Wonder how they decided I'm using it from Iran then.

Re: Slack just wiped out our data overnight

#8
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Op’s Post talks about how they are inside Iran. So in this case I still say it’s a valid account termination. If you are not accessing the service from Iran and you get dinged, contact support, supply supporting evidence and they will restore the account. This isn’t Slack picking on Iranians, this is “if slack don’t do this, they can get into a whole help of trouble”. I’m sure some people are going to get dinged by m…

I've never even used Slack in Iran and my name sounds Iranian. Wonder how they decided I'm using it from Iran then.

Was your user account closed or the workplace account closed?

If it was the workplace account that was closed the. It could be because you had users connecting to it from inside Iran and not yourself personally.

It if you got booted from a workplace because they though you were in Iran I would say contact them and ask they why they believe so, that you are not in Iran and your ip addresses that access to the service back you up.

Think of the pubic shitshow it would cause if a major yech company were banning U.S. citizens/residents because of their race/nationality. Simply because of the optics and legal repercussions behind such an epic fuck up if it ever came to light I doubt slack have staff going though account names looking for Iranian sounding names to ban off the platform and are using other metrics to determine where the user account or workplace account is actually based.

Re: Slack just wiped out our data overnight

#9

> If Slack has to comply with the export control law, they also need to comply with GDPR. Slack is an American company, GDPR is a EU law and OP is Iranian. That’s not how this works... Sure companies that operate within the EU have created tools to export your data automatically (they still have contact points to request the same data if you don’t have an account or were banned so can’t use the automated tools) so th…

You should like a racist piece of shit.

Re: Slack just wiped out our data overnight

#10
post #9

> If Slack has to comply with the export control law, they also need to comply with GDPR. Slack is an American company, GDPR is a EU law and OP is Iranian. That’s not how this works... Sure companies that operate within the EU have created tools to export your data automatically (they still have contact points to request the same data if you don’t have an account or were banned so can’t use the automated tools) so th…

You should like a racist piece of shit.

Why, because I can see why a US company would have to follow US law?

Racist? No. A dick to other people? Sure. I’ll call you a dick no matter who you are. But most of the time I’m mild mannered.

OP is complaining about Slack shutting their accounts down, I’m just saying that the reason they did so is because they are legally required to do so and OP admits they are aware of such sanctions being in place because they have got dinged by them before so imo they should of known this day was coming.

They erroneously bring up another law that doesn’t cover them and say “if they have to follow law A then they have to follow this law that doesn’t protect us”.

I’m siding with Slack not because I’m racist but because they are legally required to shutdown the account and IMO OP should of seen this coming a mile off. I can not blame Slack for OPs actions in this case.

Don’t like it? Contact US reps to get the Iranian sanctions lifted.

Post reply on HN