Catch 22
-
Hi,
I recently deleted my blog, and want to leave wordpress, but my request for my account to be deleted has been denied because – my (empty) account and its data are supporting the programming infrastructure. Now, I think this is a bit of a weak argument from wordpress and probably an abuse of my labour, and I’m not too happy about it, so I need ideas?.. has anybody else managed to have their account deleted?.. does suspension lead to the same thing?.. do some moderators delete accounts while others refuse?.. what’s the policy?
-
This would be something that you will have to take up with staff. I have never heard of this before.
Contact support Mon-Fri 9am-5pm Pacific time at: http://wordpress.com/contact-support/ , or using the “support” button in the upper right of your dashboard.
-
I guess suspension does not lead to the removal of account, it needs checking (too lazy at the moment), but unless you have a direct access to the DB, your handle (account name) and IP/UserAgent you had initially registered from are stored forever.
-
Thanks for your replies.
I’ve exchanged emails with a member of staff who mentioned that accounts are kept for “comparisons”, but this seems contrary to the information in the FAQ about the software breaking if accounts are deleted. This is essentially saying that my account is used for stats in the functioning of the software , and as a means of providing value to the company according to user numbers. This seems a reasonable use of user input to me except when the user has explicitly asked to have themselves removed. In the UK, the “Data Protection act” prohibits companies from holding data on people unless the removal severely effects the revenue of the business. Considering “wordpress” is far from a small company facing bankruptcy by its dwindling subscribers, I think I am within my rights to have my information removed. The “Data Protection Act” also allows every citizen the rights to access the stored information on request, however, is this likely to be applicable in the US?.. I’m not sure.
Coincidentally, last night on Channel4 News there was a report on a similar problem with user activity and accounts on facebook… suggesting that data retention is becoming increasingly valuable on the web.
http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/science_technology/facebook+to+face+data+protection+probe/1060467 -
Any arguments you make about data protection law are not going to get you very far; Automattic don’t care. (US law says they can’t hold data on under-13s without parental permission, but they do.) And the assumption is that, since you’re blogging on a free host, you can’t afford a lawyer and certainly can’t afford to take it to court.
If you don’t trust them with your data, you really shouldn’t have signed up in the first place. It’s theirs now. Live and learn.
-
Well, thanks for that dose of cynicism, wank. If your predictions are correct, then I probably need to change roles.
-
I’m sure if you send them something on lawyer’s letterhead they will delete your account, although I’ve never heard of them deleting an account. It all depends what it’s worth to you.
-
not sure if the Privacy International would be acting as an ombudsman, but, coincidentally, it is based in London, England, and has an office in Washington, D.C.
both “comparisons” and “for stats in the functioning of the software” reasons are as well ridiculous as “damages to business” — holding data costs incomparably much more than dropping a table from DB.
btw, unfortunately, I can’t say I’m too excited about the Data Retention legislation neither in the EU, nor in the UK in particular.
-
“Privacy International” seems useful thanks.
Data retention seems a fair policy in some cases, if it is declared, and if there is a set duration after which the destruction of data becomes an obligation. As far as I know – “wordpress” are bypassing the release of their policy on this, and are currently at the liberty of their own rules to store the data of users indefinitely.
I’m almost inspired to start a new blog, but the irony of publishing my opinions about privacy issues is probably too great to bear, so instead, I may have to support the “wordpress” soapbox with an illustrated thesis on obscenity issues according to an alter-ego. I suppose – if I give the impression that my personal beliefs do not neccesarily correlate with my illustrated representations, and that any transient identities are necessarily altruistic and unsubstantial, and thus cannot hurt any one – I may begin to feel comfortable with the obligatory “oneblackline” account. Either that, or.. I could send several emails every day for several months, asking for the deletion of my (their) account, or… several emails… reporting myself as a commercial spammer. I don’t know, but thanks you options for the effort in your reply… tis appreciated.
raincoaster – Thank you too for your input.
-
Pretty simple to delete all the posts, the comments, the categories and the pages. Change the theme back to the one that it came with “kubrick” and then delete all the data that you have in the blog options. At least that way, the blog has nothing that resembled what you had before.
Trent
-
- The topic ‘Catch 22’ is closed to new replies.
WordPress.com Forums 