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> If you ask a server to delete data, you have to trust it actually deletes it. That goes for any protocol; it's nothing to do with Matrix. I've see this "crit
by orthecreedence 1y ago
> If you ask a server to delete data, you have to trust it actually deletes it. That goes for any protocol; it's nothing to do with Matrix.
I've see this "critique" come up with multiple different protocols, and it's almost infuriating.
How does the protocol ensure the server removes the data in question from backups? How does the protocol handle someone copying the data off the server onto another device before deletion? How does the protocol handle servers that don't properly implement the data deletion portion of the protocol? How does the protocol handle wiping the neural synapses associated with the memory of that piece of data for each person who ever interacted with it? Without solving these problems, it seems to me the "delete" feature is nothing more than a suggestion, and therefor the protocol itself is fundamentally broken!!
Like, how do you take back something horrible you said to a friend? You don't. You fucking live with your mistake. Don't send shit to other people if you don't want them to, you know, have that information.
- cwillu 1y agoAccidents happen, but that's exactly why the delete-as-suggestion feature exists.
- eddythompson80 1y agoDespite our frustration, you can’t deny that it’s among the top 10 requested features anywhere. Snapchat pretty much made its name on convincing people that they did it. Telegram and Signal have “Delete for me” and “Delete for everyone” options, etc. One could argue that the right implementation is to not have a delete option at all. Having a delete option gives people the false idea that their data was deleted, but no one can guarantee you that. Pretty sure this makes people even more annoyed and outraged. Imagine the typical responses you will see on a HN post titled “Twitter now is refusing to let you delete your tweets” and Elon Musk saying something like your last sentence to people.
- AstralStorm 1y agoSo you trust that the client or the centralized service actually does what it says without inspection? Then you also trust there's no lawful interception on those services anyway?
- eddythompson80 1y agoHo did you even arrive at that bizarre conclusion