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That's a bit pessimistic/paranoid and off the bat doesn't make a whole lot of sense. If your data is supposed to have been deleted but they ignored it, they ha

That's a bit pessimistic/paranoid and off the bat doesn't make a whole lot of sense. If your data is supposed to have been deleted but they ignored it, they have it illegally. If someone from the state wants to prosecute you and requests the data, the company wouldn't own up to having it, because they're not allowed have it. Why would they lie to you, and then sell themselves out to the state? Fine, they might keep it, but not in order to assist in prosecutions lol

Lio 7y ago
The way Google acts with regard to privacy law is similar to how they act with regard to tax law. That is they look for loopholes and places they can use dark patterns to nudge users into giving up more data. They stay within the rules but push the envelope of what’s acceptable to the legal limit. It’s not that they are holding onto data specifically to support prosecutions it’s that they hold onto data because that’s what Google do. They’d hand that over because they have it and to not cooperate would unnecessarily cause them business friction they could easily avoid.
- theelous3 7y ago
  So the conspiracy is rather that the delete button simply doesn't do anything? I don't think that would go down well for the prosecution if you ever ended up in court. The reality is that 99.99% of users never even open their account settings, let alone micromanage their identity's state across dozens of platforms. Google wouldn't even notice if all hn readers deleted all of their data and deactivated their accounts tomorrow. The most reasonable thing for them to do is to actually delete the data, and avoid all headaches. It's the more profitable move. You look like good guys and avoid legal problems.
  - Lio 7y ago
    Nope that’s not the conspiracy. The conspiracy is that you’ve pressed the wrong button because the UI is deliberately confusing. If you could find the right button I’m sure it would delete the data... except that it’s down the UI equivalent three flights of stairs to the basement, behind a filing cabinet in front of a locked door with a sign on saying “Beware of the leopard”. Oh and every tracking feature is on by default even if you’re not logged in.
    - theelous3 7y ago
      Well, maybe for you. I'm in the EU. I don't have to navigate a UI. I can go the UI route, or I can email them instead for a surefire approach. Even then, the UI's for these things usually aren't actually that darkpatterned. Once you get down the first dark tunnel, it tends to open up quite well.
TheSpiceIsLife 7y ago
Parallel construction. Advanced Persistent Threat. State Level Actor. I think we ought to assume Big Corp doesn't delete anything and shares that not-deleted data with, at least, the Five Eyes.

Lio 7y ago

The way Google acts with regard to privacy law is similar to how they act with regard to tax law. That is they look for loopholes and places they can use dark patterns to nudge users into giving up more data. They stay within the rules but push the envelope of what’s acceptable to the legal limit. It’s not that they are holding onto data specifically to support prosecutions it’s that they hold onto data because that’s what Google do. They’d hand that over because they have it and to not cooperate would unnecessarily cause them business friction they could easily avoid.

theelous3 7y ago
So the conspiracy is rather that the delete button simply doesn't do anything? I don't think that would go down well for the prosecution if you ever ended up in court. The reality is that 99.99% of users never even open their account settings, let alone micromanage their identity's state across dozens of platforms. Google wouldn't even notice if all hn readers deleted all of their data and deactivated their accounts tomorrow. The most reasonable thing for them to do is to actually delete the data, and avoid all headaches. It's the more profitable move. You look like good guys and avoid legal problems.
- Lio 7y ago
  Nope that’s not the conspiracy. The conspiracy is that you’ve pressed the wrong button because the UI is deliberately confusing. If you could find the right button I’m sure it would delete the data... except that it’s down the UI equivalent three flights of stairs to the basement, behind a filing cabinet in front of a locked door with a sign on saying “Beware of the leopard”. Oh and every tracking feature is on by default even if you’re not logged in.
  - theelous3 7y ago
    Well, maybe for you. I'm in the EU. I don't have to navigate a UI. I can go the UI route, or I can email them instead for a surefire approach. Even then, the UI's for these things usually aren't actually that darkpatterned. Once you get down the first dark tunnel, it tends to open up quite well.

TheSpiceIsLife 7y ago

Parallel construction. Advanced Persistent Threat. State Level Actor. I think we ought to assume Big Corp doesn't delete anything and shares that not-deleted data with, at least, the Five Eyes.