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.

millions,
millions avatar

GDPR laws take the wheel

thek3nger,

Holy damn. I deleted all my comments and my account ~a week ago. I don't even know how to check if they restored something. 😠

FirmRip,
FirmRip avatar

I overwrote and then deleted all of my 14 year comment/post history and it came back complete. I hate to say it, but my guess is that it'll all get restored.

lamentforicarus,

That's ok. I am petty enough to constantly delete my stuff.

can,

You'll have to do it manually for July.

lamentforicarus,

I know :/

But I am awfully stubborn and my family loves trash tv so I can easily do it while we're watching those.

Bipta,

"Manually" just means without the API.

I hope Reddit likes scraper bots consuming full webpages instead; surely that's cheaper for them. /s

crazyminner,

Just wait a bit then delete your data. They can't keep an eye on it forever.

thek3nger,

Holy damn. I deleted all my comments and my account ~a week ago. I don't even know how to check if they restored something. 😠

khab,
khab avatar

Check a thread you know you wrote something in?

jugalator, (edited )

If this is not a bug, it's pretty wild. I don't think this is even compliant to GDPR as for European users unless there is legal obligation or for archiving scientific progress etc. I have a hard time seeing protection for Reddit here as it's just a social news site, there's no way around that. It's not a bundle of research papers and the police hasn't come knocking on their door asking them to recover content.

See The right to erasure (Article 17 & 19).

abff08f4813c,
abff08f4813c avatar

Does anyone know if we have similar rights under PIPEDA here in Canada? Can we use that to legally enforce deletion in the same way?

https://blog.rsisecurity.com/canadas-pipeda-vs-eus-gdpr-whats-the-difference/amp/

Frog-Brawler,
Frog-Brawler avatar

Likely not the popular opinion here; but I’m not going to go through the trouble of re-deleting any posts they might have restored. That’s just additional frustration for me. I’m not going to go over to Reddit and provide them additional traffic to go look at something I did write on their platform at one point. I’m just moving on.

PhreakyByNature,

Nah I get it. I haven't even deleted my 11 years of contributions yet. I don't mind it existing as it wasn't particularly helpful stuff anyway, but part of me did wanna replace all text with "Redacted due to API" or something but feel that will just flag content restores on their side.

AaronSwartz,

Redacted due to fuck u/spez

mfz,
mfz avatar

I think they're creating enough trouble for themselves anyway just by constantly shooting themselves in the head. Also moving on is probably the least good thing for them. Losing users gradually will bleed them to death.

TheFriendless,

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.

ajar7,
ajar7 avatar

Noyb.eu is the nonprofit you are looking for.

BBKuma,
BBKuma avatar

I manually deleted most of my comments but left a few and decided to go and edit them with AI rephrasing as someone suggested. I mostly deleted the older comments and got confused when I saw 2 comments reappear. This makes sense now.

DarkThoughts,

That link is just too request the bulk of your data. It's not a form to request deletion of all your data. Technically you could request that, but if they deny out ignore that, then there's not a whole lot you can do unless you're ready to take it to court.

Trebach,

If you're in the EU, report it to the Data Protection Authority in your country. They must provide you with a copy of your data and also purge it upon request.

Bloonface,
Bloonface avatar

The EU or the UK. The Information Commissioners Office would take an exceptionally dim view of this shit.

HeartyBeast,
HeartyBeast avatar

I'm not sure whether under GDPR your posts would be classified as Personal Identifiable Information - which is what the GDPR is mainly about

Mineroboter,

deleted_by_author

    •
    HeartyBeast,
    HeartyBeast avatar

    Informative. Thank you

    booshi,

    deleted_by_author

    •
    spainball,

    What if you post a photo of yourself (like they do in AMAs). Surely it ties your profile to your "natural person" then and would subject all your content (since its connected to your profile) to be covered by GDPR?

    flybynightpotato,

    I think one could make an argument that data Reddit has falls into the category: "Personal data basically means any information about a living person, where that person either is identified or could be identified. Personal data can cover various types of information, such as name, date of birth, email address, phone number, address, physical characteristics, or location data – once it is clear to whom that information relates, or it is reasonably possible to find out." People post all kinds of information on Reddit that leads back to their identity, making it reasonably possible to find out who they are (hence why people get doxxed). https://www.dataprotection.ie/sites/default/files/uploads/2019-07/190710%20Data%20Protection%20Basics.pdf

    Edit: But that said, there are exceptions where entities may retain data in furtherance of other objectives, and erasing data isn't the same as formally requesting its removal, so while this is all super shitty and shady, it might not actually be illegal. We need the data privacy experts to weigh in!

    MiddleWeigh,
    @MiddleWeigh@lemmy.world avatar

    This just feels really shitty to me at like a basic level. The rest of the shenanigans were just your typical shitty corporate stuff. This feels a bit more like it could have pretty large ramifications.

    9Volt, (edited )
    9Volt avatar

    Wow, out of everything that’s happened involving Reddit over the past few weeks, this to me is the most damning and deserves the most attention.

    I’m really curious to see how they try to spin this in the next PR piece and what the reactions will be.

    DannyBoy,

    @9Volt @chri5 Reddit at this point doesn't care about PR.
    They only care about sweet user data money. Like Google, Facebook, TikTok...

    matzah,
    @matzah@lemmy.blahaj.zone avatar

    So, so, so glad I deleted my entire account. This is so unethical.

    CynAq,
    CynAq avatar

    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.

    effingjoe,
    effingjoe avatar

    As I understand it (and I may not!) deleting your account leaves all your comments in place, but without your username.

    chri5,
    chri5 avatar

    That should be the policy but Reddit states it can take up to 90 days to disconnect content from a user profile and personally - I wouldn't bet on it if it seems they are doing this manually (why else would this take 90 days?).

    fear,
    fear avatar

    It makes me wonder if they would restore wiped comments from accounts that have been deleted?

    lackthought,
    @lackthought@lemmy.sdf.org avatar

    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

    freebrick,
    freebrick avatar

    Do you really think there is a difference between deletion through api or manual? In both cases they don't really delete the content.

    VulcanSphere,
    VulcanSphere avatar

    The Lord of Snoo, spez has unleashed a dick move towards the platform.

    Gonna love the Snoo Platform, Inc. panic mode in action.

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