OC Updated: Reddit is quietly restoring deleted AND overwritten posts and comments

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.

Phoeniqz,
@Phoeniqz@lemmy.dbzer0.com avatar

Using a platform run like an authoritarian regime feels nice, until it doesn't.

doublejay3000,

You can begin your complaint in the UK with the Information Commissioner's Office :

https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/data-protection-complaints/data-protection-complaints/

TWeaK,

You should bear in mind, PowerDeleteSuite doesn't get everything. It can only see what's in your reddit profile under New, Top, Hot & Controversial - there will be numerous posts that are too old with only 1 or a few karma that aren't displayed in these lists. In particular, if you go through your top posts of all time, you might find some replies to these posts that you made that the script did not see.

The GDPR archive gives a full list of all the comments. What we need is a FOSS script that can use these csv files to get everything. Apparently Shreddit can take the csv files, however you have to pay $15 to use this feature.

rarkgrames,
@rarkgrames@lemmy.world avatar

I mass edited my posts to all say fuck /u/spez with redact and most appear to be back. I shall edit them again and if they come back I shall do it again and again. I can play this game as long as it takes.

forgotmylastusername,

All posts/comments from shadow banned accounts show as [removed]. Just putting that out there.

SterlingVapor,

Here's the thing - everything rots. Code and data included.

Not participating is more than enough - better that the data is preserved anyways. Restoring it is ice chips to a starving man, it'll help, but not for long

balance_sheet,

So it wasn't just me! I was sure I purged everything but for some reason they came back and I had no idea. Fuck you reddit, you're not getting any of anything from me.

generalpotato,

Just deleted mine via PDS for an account of over 9yrs. Let’s see if these guys revert it. Might take the GDPR route if they don’t let up.

MentallyExhausted,

Shit, just confirmed they restored my comments. I overwrote them and deleted them and deleted the account and they’re still fucking there. Unbelievably scummy, this should make the news.

abff08f4813c,
abff08f4813c avatar

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.

Been thinking about that. I don't think that overrules laws like the GDPR though - law triumphs over ToS. And under GDPR, consent can be withdrawn, you can't give an irrevokable consent.

PixxlMan,

Totally. When quitting, make sure to file a GDPR takedown request on your account. If reddit doesn't comply, they could be fined quite handsomely.

booshi,

So they will delete your email address, and still freely use your content for whatever uses. Oh no!

Azzu,

That's not how it works. All content has to be deleted for GDPR compliance.

Screak42,

yes and no. unfortunately it’s in many cases not overly difficult for a company to justify the still need this data after sich request. but it’s something at least

https://gdpr.eu/right-to-be-forgotten/#:~:text=In%20Article%2017%2C%20the%20GDPR,originally%20collected%20or%20processed%20it.

TWeaK,

GDPR gives you the right to correct information if it's wrong. Given that the information is typically an opinion of the user, that should give the user the right to remove the information.

SphereofWreckening,

IANAL but wouldn't this be on par with creating a contract or NDA with illegal elements? Wherein the contract/NDA are no longer considered valid/become void as a result. Obviously this wouldn't apply to the US and several other countries, and Reddit also has lawyers. Realistically I'm also just some dingus so someone smarter may know

abff08f4813c,
abff08f4813c avatar

It's probably the case that the rest of the ToS applies except for that one specific element, which is severable. This what I've usually read in contracts (IANAL either but I used to work in a business that required a lot of proofing of contracts).

Iceblade02,

Wow! Just realized reddit has done this to my comments as well.

starlinguk,
starlinguk avatar

So... They've basically just admitted that deleting your posts is bad for Reddit.

Keep going, guys.

And spezi (as we lovingly refer to you in our household), expect lawyers.

Spezi,

I don't want to be mixed up with spez :-(

puck2,

I deleted some of mine but we're taking 12++ years of posts

omenmis,

Spezi did nothing wrong, don't slander my favorite soda over some asshat

someguy3,

While there's some value in old threads, the real value is in new ones. Deleting old comments won't amount to much.

parrot-party,
parrot-party avatar

I regularly find old threads when Google searching. There is absolutely value in old comments.

namastex,
namastex avatar

💯

Most people who use reddit or have used reddit tend to Google everything by putting "Reddit" somewhere in their searches now.

overzeetop,
@overzeetop@lemmy.world avatar

I'd be willing to bet a lot of traffic is driven to Reddit via Google queries (Lord knows that Reddit's own search engine can't find shit). Removing data will reduce hits or, if Google doesn't update their cached database, will result in people avoiding reddit because every time they go there it's just deleted comments.

someguy3,

I think most (not all) is the normal lurkers browsing all.

lusterko,

I only started using reddit because I was finding lots of useful old threads through Google/ddg

NecoArcKbinAccount,
NecoArcKbinAccount avatar

wait if the account is deleted can they still restore the comments?

dan,
@dan@upvote.au avatar

When an account is deleted, all the comments still exist, the author's name just changes to "[deleted]". You'd need to use a third-party tool that deletes all the comments individually, or potentially send them a GDPR or CCPA "right to be forgotten" request (although I'm unsure as to if this actually deletes the comments).

entropie,

https://www.unddit.com/

Not sure if still possible, but this was a way to show deleted reddit comments

dan,
@dan@upvote.au avatar

Sites like this will likely die off once they make the API cost money, since they all work by calling the API and getting a list of all the newest comments.

NecoArcKbinAccount,
NecoArcKbinAccount avatar

I had done that, but now I'm concerned they'll somehow pull the comments up even though the account is removed

balance_sheet,

That's why before you purge your account, you rewrite(edit) the comments with something like Lorem Ipsum.

OmnipotentEntity,
@OmnipotentEntity@beehaw.org avatar

In practice, it's hard to know exactly how Reddit structures the data they have and what exactly a delete actually does and what backups they have.

That being said, it's not out of the question that you could delete your post history, then your account, and reddit only restores your post history and not your account, leaving you unable to delete it again.

TWeaK,

Hijacking the top comment to say: PowerDeleteSuite doesn't get everything. It can only see what's in your reddit profile under New, Top, Hot & Controversial - there will be numerous posts that are too old with only 1 or a few karma that aren't displayed in these lists. In particular, if you go through your top posts of all time, you might find some replies to these posts that you made that the script did not see.

The GDPR archive gives a full list of all the comments. What we need is a FOSS script that can use these csv files to get everything. Apparently Shreddit can take the csv files, however you have to pay $15 to use this feature.

Jon-H558,

I've already given $30 to kbin as a fuck you to Reddit what's $15 more

ChiefestOfCalamities,

I got rid of all my stuff with Reddit Enhancement Suite. Seemed to work well. Not the most user friendly method, but it's free and effective.

https://www.guidingtech.com/how-to-delete-all-reddit-comments-posts/

linoor,

Probably better to replace your comments with some gibberish generated by chatgtp instead of deleting them. It will be much harder to figure out on mass scale if the edit was legit or not compared to them just looking for recently deleted comments or comments that mention something like “comment deleted by x tool”.

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