Basically what it says in the title. Too many sites make you jump through all these hoops to have your account deleted, and sometimes even then don’t do it.
I know about justdeleteme, but unfortunately that doesn’t cover a lot of things. Threatening legal action with my state’s attorney general—in one case, anyway—didn’t work. Maybe the EU will pass some legislation that will carry over to the US . . .
Anyway, don’t mind me, just griping.
EDIT: Sort of like the “unsubscribe” button you get at the bottom of some emails. Did they have to pass a law to get that enacted?
EU already has this with the GDPR. Only limitation are retention periods required by law, like employee data needs to be kept for ten years in Germany for example, but for the duration whoever has the data must block it from being processed for anything but the legal requirment, as that becomes the legal basis for processing (storing in this case) and no other uses are allowed until deletion.
Only applies to EU citizens though plenty companies have implemented straightforward ways to delete an account for everyone.
VPN to Spain, you’ll find that a lot more options for deleting your account will be available.
(Spain aggressively pursues GDPR violators)
I’m Spanish and currently Spain has a very left oriented policy, at least compared to the most other EU countries. But the future remains unclear, “dark forces are strong, my little padavan”.
There was a rulethat was close to being enacted by the FTC that had to do with that, the “click-to-cancel” rule. It was supposed to go into effect 2 weeks ago.
It would have required companies to “make it as easy to cancel, as it was to sign up” for tons of things in the US.
It said that companies had to provide an easy way to cancel, that took equally long as signing up or less, AND via the same medium. So companies couldn’t make you call to cancel if you signed up online.
Unfortunately, it was stopped by the 8th circuit court, who deemed it “outside the FTC’s authority” which is absolute bullshit, that’s why they exist.
I really hope it manages to get pushed through somehow, because so many companies are just the absolute worst scumbags and constantly getting away with it.
edit: it’s not quite the same as deleting an account, i realize that. it still would have enabled a lot of these ‘services’ to get shut down easily.
Maybe the EU will pass some legislation that will carry over to the US
GDPR requires the right to have your data deleted at least, but a lot of companies will only allow that if you are within the EU (because of profit and spite, I suppose). Though some just allowed it for everyone instead
Similar for California Consumer Privacy Act where a lot of companies will only let you do the stuff it requires if you are within California
Sort of like the “unsubscribe” button you get at the bottom of some emails. Did they have to pass a law to get that enacted?
Yes, see the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003
As far as I’ve seen, on 99% of websites that I use, there’s a Delete account button. And I believe that’s because of GDPR.
It doesnt delete an account, it makes account invisible. To wipe data people can try to send gdpr request to DPO, by my experience most of the Big companies doesnt satisfy such requests based on broad meaning of “legitimate interest” “fraud prevention” “implement security measures” “protect others users”
I already have like 6 complaint to DPA for companies refusing to delete data
It already exists in the EU (and I think California has passed something similar?). One trick you can use is to change your location to an EU country and then request deletion.
Sounds like you want to live in the EU because we already have that.
It should be a human right, worldwide for all humans.
In my honest opinion, I don’t think companies really delete every last kb of your data. Your data probably still exists on a backup in some server farm.
It’s always better to avoid as much possible to make an account and not before you have checked all conditions, to not regret it later. In some sides it’s almost impossible to delete your account (eg.Facebook, adding that if you after request it it last several weeks to delete your account, all your content pass to be property of Facebook (see TOS)
