GDPR and EnglishForum

[curley]

	Quote:	meloncollie
	Is there a way to not only delete an account so that posts show up as 'guest', but also to delete all a user's posts as well, invoking GDPR? I thought I remember a discussion on this, but can't seem to find that now.

The thing with that is that if busy posters are deleted, most threads won't make any sense anymore. EF is gonna look like a "tower of Babel" forum.

[greenmount]

	Quote:	curley
	The thing with that is that if busy posters are deleted, most threads won't make any sense anymore. EF is gonna look like a "tower of Babel" forum.

Maybe, but you have the right to ask for that so...

[k_and_e]

	Quote:	meloncollie
	Is there a way to not only delete an account so that posts show up as 'guest', but also to delete all a user's posts as well, invoking GDPR? I thought I remember a discussion on this, but can't seem to find that now.

Assuming that posts contain no personal information and the user has been anonymized (as a guest), there is no requirement to do that.

[greenmount]

	Quote:	k_and_e
	Assuming that posts contain no personal information and the user has been anonymized (as a guest), there is no requirement to do that.

Many have tried very hard to protect their privacy but it is impossible not to have revealed some personal info here at one point or another.

So yes, this is a valid requirement. And I suppose many would agree with me because once you want to delete your account you also want to delete all these details that will continue to hang around on internet indefinitely.

[k_and_e]

	Quote:	greenmount
	Many have tried very hard to protect their privacy but it is impossible not to have revealed some personal info here at one point or another. So yes, this is a valid requirement. And I suppose many would agree with me because once you want to delete your account you also want to delete all these details that will continue to hang around on internet indefinitely.

It might be a requirement for you but not a requirement to be GDPR compliant.

It would be almost impossible to do as your posts that are quoted need to be removed. This would break the flow of posts and make a forum incomplete.

[marton]

	Quote:	greenmount
	Many have tried very hard to protect their privacy but it is impossible not to have revealed some personal info here at one point or another. So yes, this is a valid requirement. And I suppose many would agree with me because once you want to delete your account you also want to delete all these details that will continue to hang around on internet indefinitely.

The internet is a public place that EF is a part of, EF is not a private subset. So deleting your account does not guarantee your details will not continue to hang around on internet indefinitely.
Try doing a google search on a member who has deleted.

[greenmount]

	Quote:	marton
	So deleting your account does not guarantee your details will not continue to hang around on internet indefinitely. Try doing a google search on a member who has deleted.

Yeah, I know that, that's why I understand the need for asking for your posts to be removed. I know they will still hang out there, but won't be visible anymore.
I don't care about the flow of this forum tbh. I care about our privacy. And frankly there's nothing much what one would like to remember here anymore - certainly not the bullying, the ganging up, all this crap. Ok, in short I'd be really interested to know whether there is this possibility or not.
I know other online fora remove not only the user's name but also the content of their posts.

[k_and_e]

	Quote:	greenmount
	Ok, in short I'd be really interested to know whether there is this possibility or not.

Best check with Editor Bob. He's probably the only one that can answer your question.

[greenmount]

	Quote:	k_and_e
	Best check with Editor Bob. He's probably the only one that can answer your question.

I'll definitely do that when I will ask Editor Bob to delete my account. I have "survived" a few storms here, would feel sorry to stop any interaction, but it is a possibility I'm pondering for too long. I'd like to know my options in advance but you're right, probably it's only him who can answer that.

With so many people moderating multiple forums here I thought someone else can answer if it's do-able or whatever.

[k_and_e]

	Quote:	greenmount
	With so many people moderating multiple forums here I thought someone else can answer if it's do-able or whatever.

Of course it's extremely naive to think that anybody would ever want to leave such a forum

[MusicChick]

	Quote:	k_and_e
	Of course it's extremely naive to think that anybody would ever want to leave such a forum

Maybe it is just stats after years of watching people flounce -> return.

[Ace1]

	Quote:	meloncollie
	Is there a way to not only delete an account so that posts show up as 'guest', but also to delete all a user's posts as well, invoking GDPR?

GDPR covers the storage of (and access to, etc.) personal data. If there is no personal data left, i.e. names and email addresses have been deleted, there is no longer any personal data. Things that may have been posted by a now-unidentifiable account would not be covered by GDPR.

Also, lets be clear, the regulations don't in any way extend to protecting individuals against what they may have posted in the past, just the storage of personal information. The so-called "right to be forgotten" implemented by some companies in some places is not part of GDPR requirements.

	Quote:	meloncollie
	I thought I remember a discussion on this, but can't seem to find that now.

I'm tempted to split these posts off and put them in the earlier GDPR thread...

EDIT: done, makes more sense there, I think.

[amogles]

	Quote:	Ace1
	GDPR covers the storage of (and access to, etc.) personal data. If there is no personal data left, i.e. names and email addresses have been deleted, there is no longer any personal data. Things that may have been posted by a now-unidentifiable account would not be covered by GDPR.

What about things like the timeback machine that saves screenshots of websites at a certain point in history. There's probably loads of stuff still on there that has been deleted off the EF proper.

[Ace1]

	Quote:	amogles
	What about things like the timeback machine that saves screenshots of websites at a certain point in history. There's probably loads of stuff still on there that has been deleted off the EF proper.

And is therefore no longer the responsibility of EF under GDPR regs. If there's any personal data on any of those sort of sites then individuals would have just as much right to ask the site owner for its removal as on any other site they're subscribed to.

But TBH, as I said in the other post, I don't think that historical postings could in any way be counted under GDPR as personal data, unless they actually contained personal information, which of course has never been allowed here.

[greenmount]

	Quote:	MusicChick
	Maybe it is just stats after years of watching people flounce -> return.

What's the point then? Some do, some not. Some could just take a break in this case, if they are unsure about leaving the forum. Perhaps we should all reserve the right to wait for some time instead of "flouncing".

[Ace1]

	Quote:	greenmount
	What's the point then? Some do, some not. Some could just take a break in this case, if they are unsure about leaving the forum. Perhaps we should all reserve the right to wait for some time instead of "flouncing".

As you'll see from the earlier posts in this GDPR thread, we always used to apply a non-destructive method of anonymisation rather than completely deleting the user as is now often done.

I'd still prefer it if we did, but theLocal took the decision at one point that anyone insisting on a total removal would be granted that, regardless of whether GDPR actually gave them that right, preferring to err on the side of caution.

Once news got out that is was being done in some cases, the flouncers who previously would have been satisfied by renaming, banning etc. were also inspired to use it.

[greenmount]

	Quote:	Ace1
	As you'll see from the earlier posts in this GDPR thread, we always used to apply a non-destructive method of anonymisation rather than completely deleting the user as is now often done. I'd still prefer it if we did, but theLocal took the decision at one point that anyone insisting on a total removal would be granted that, regardless of whether GDPR actually gave them that right, preferring to err on the side of caution. Once news got out that is was being done in some cases, the flouncers who previously would have been satisfied by renaming, banning etc. were also inspired to use it.

Yes, I understand that. And I agree with the Local on a total removal if that's what a user is asking for.

The point I was trying to make is that instead of taking a rush emotional decision and then "reconsidering" it ,maybe it's better to wait for a while and see if that's what one really wants. Not an obligation for the mods, rather a self-imposed obligation if that makes any sense to you.

[Ato]

	Quote:	greenmount
	Yes, I understand that. And I agree with the Local on a total removal if that's what a user is asking for. The point I was trying to make is that instead of taking a rush emotional decision and then "reconsider" it maybe it's better to wait for a while and see if that's one really wants. Not an obligation for the mods, rather a self-imposed obligation if that makes any sense to you.

A user can always give themselves 2 weeks/months/years to consider having everything deleted, or just never log in again.
The nuke button is available, if you want to push it I don't see why there should be a waiting period beforehand, that's the whole point of it.

[CodPeace]

With the anonymity, if your email is scrambled, and you leave your posts and assoc. username, surely that a good enough?
What am I missing here?

[greenmount]

	Quote:	Ato
	A user can always give themselves 2 weeks/months/years to consider having everything deleted, or just never log in again. The nuke button is available, if you want to push it I don't see why there should be a waiting period beforehand, that's the whole point of it.

Yes, you're absolutely right.