Chris 👾 (@chris@mstdn.games)
mstdn.games
Attached: 2 images 👿 PSA: #Reddit is restoring deleted and overwritten posts to save what they consider "their data". This is a new low and probably illegal at least in Europe. You can send a GDPR or CPRA request here: https://www.reddit.com/settings/data-request These are screenshots of my profile on June 14th before and after overwriting and then deleting all my posts with Powerdelete. Today, June 16th all my posts have been restored by Reddit without my knowledge or consent. #redditblackout #redditmigration #kbin #lemmy

Another update and possibly a solution for some case where posts were not properly deleted. Seems I jumped the gun on this and the restores haven’t been intentional - at least not in this particular case.

There is a limitation in the popular Powerdelete that apparently prevents mass editing. Here is a link to a new version with a build-in delay and some other alternatives:
https://www.reddit.com/r/ModCoord/comments/145fico/comment/jnl4xmr/

There are other reported cases where manually deleted post reappeared or other scripts have been used, so this doesn’t solve all issues but explains how posts that were both edited and deleted withPowerdelete weren’t properly deleted and reappeared after subs went back live.

Update: As some have pointed out: the restores can be rollbacks from the server issues or post haven’t been properly deleted due to subs being private during blackouts. Many have experienced the same issue, I can’t explain how this happens. I’ll just run the script again, try the GDPR request and delete my account.

Also worth noting: according to the ToS Reddit can actually do whatever they want with existing content, apparently we agreed to this when signing up.

#redditblackout #redditmigration #kbin #lemmy

  • Trebach@kbin.social
    10·
    1 year ago

    If you’re in the EU, report it to the Data Protection Authority in your country. They must provide you with a copy of your data and also purge it upon request.

    • Bloonface@kbin.social
      4·
      1 year ago

      The EU or the UK. The Information Commissioners Office would take an exceptionally dim view of this shit.

    • HeartyBeast@kbin.social
      1·
      1 year ago

      I’m not sure whether under GDPR your posts would be classified as Personal Identifiable Information - which is what the GDPR is mainly about

      • spainball@kbin.social
        1·
        1 year ago

        What if you post a photo of yourself (like they do in AMAs). Surely it ties your profile to your “natural person” then and would subject all your content (since its connected to your profile) to be covered by GDPR?

      • flybynightpotato@kbin.social
        1·
        1 year ago

        I think one could make an argument that data Reddit has falls into the category: “Personal data basically means any information about a living person, where that person either is identified or could be identified. Personal data can cover various types of information, such as name, date of birth, email address, phone number, address, physical characteristics, or location data – once it is clear to whom that information relates, or it is reasonably possible to find out.” People post all kinds of information on Reddit that leads back to their identity, making it reasonably possible to find out who they are (hence why people get doxxed). https://www.dataprotection.ie/sites/default/files/uploads/2019-07/190710%20Data%20Protection%20Basics.pdf

        Edit: But that said, there are exceptions where entities may retain data in furtherance of other objectives, and erasing data isn’t the same as formally requesting its removal, so while this is all super shitty and shady, it might not actually be illegal. We need the data privacy experts to weigh in!