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.
Worth noting is that a number of US states also have strong protection laws. So, delete you comments manually and then, if you’re really trying to ensure that they delete your data, submit a data removal request that cites your locale’s law on data removal.
Theeeeeen in 6 months or so, send a data retrieval request to make sure they followed through… and report them if they did not comply. Might as well make them pay for that data if they can’t follow the rules.
Assuming that this is, in fact, not legal and if they have money that can be gone after, I assume that someone may start a class action suit. In theory, they’re worth multiple billions, so…
An individual probably doesn’t care much about whatever harm is done, as the damage is too small. But this is the kind of thing where a lawyer can walk away with a big payday by aggregating cases of many users and then getting a percentage of any payout.
I am not at all certain that it is not legal, though.
This could be worse than anything else they’ve done. If they claim they own the data, are they then not responsible for it like newspapers? Is it in their terms and conditions they are free to do whatever with posted information, do they have the rights to edit users comments but in doing so become a content provider and therefore responsible. Kicking mods out doesn’t land you in court this seems high risk to be manipulating content. Doesn’t matter why it was deleted or edited it was deleted or edited who gets to decide what version to restore. Either you are hands off or you own the data and are responsible for it and upheld to media standards.
Edit: found a snippit of the terms and conditions in a German GDPR thread, It appears it is their terms and conditions that after you post it they can do with it what they like, even adapt it. Either way that’s not a reason to be gone.
Quick and dirty Google search says GDPR law is complicated when it comes to backups https://www.itgovernance.eu/blog/en/the-gdpr-how-the-right-to-be-forgotten-affects-backups-2
Even if having backups of the data is legal, it seems highly doubtful that restoring data that a user intentionally deleted would be allowed.
Has anyone tried phoning a GDPR focused lawyer firm? I just did a google and they offer a “free consultation” I would like to get the facts 100% before raising my pitchfork.
That’s beyond fucked up.
But also very predictable.
I think it’s safe to say this fiasco isn’t going anywhere without a class action lawsuit or something.
There is EU and GDRP which reddit have to comply with.
Reddit CEO is a moron thinking they can avoid getting slapped with a fine.
They really want to fuck around GDPR? Are they really Musk level morons?
Perhaps delete and replace the comment with text that explicitly claims copyright on the deleted message and denies Reddit a license to use the deleted content? It would be good to get a legal eagle willing to look at the Reddit user agreement and content licensing and see if there is a legally literate way of denying them use deleted content once it has been submitted.
If you’re in the EU, submit a request to have it purged. If they refuse, that’s a violation of the GDPR.
Just wait a bit then delete your data. They can’t keep an eye on it forever.
So, so, so glad I deleted my entire account. This is so unethical.
It makes me wonder if they would restore wiped comments from accounts that have been deleted?
I’m sorry to say this but, they probably restored all of your posts too. It will just say “deleted” as your username but the posts and comments will be in their old place.
As I understand it (and I may not!) deleting your account leaves all your comments in place, but without your username.
Earlier this week I deleted all of my comments except for some in a private sub. I just checked and all the posts I deleted are back 🤬
Same
wow I just checked and all my deleted comments are restored (used the power delete suite)
jokes on them, I’m petty enough to sit here and manually delete everything
I used Redact to schedule a daily deletion of my comments and posts. Hope it works. Also, I will report it.
There’s certainly no chance this will backfire…
Thats messed up! fuck spez!
That is such a shitty move. Forcing subreddits to go back up is one thing, but as a european this feels very wrong from a data ownership standpoint and I’m not sure it’s ok in the GDPR rules?
I think we should actively keep track of Reddit restoring user’s content without people’s permission. Screenshots, timestamps, everything. Monitor it all.
Maybe if Reddit go ahead with their API change whilst treating their users like such disposable crap, we could reach out to the EU to inform them of Reddit’s GDPR breaches. Maybe that’d lead to their new revenue from API charges disappearing into hefty EU fines.
Update: Maybe there’s going to be some loophole about actually having to use the data deletion request via Reddit’s UI for there to be an actually GDPR breach though thinking about it. Going to ask around some Law friends for advise
