Deleting posted content (discourse forum member)

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Hello everyone,

Regarding a topic recently created here about users being able to delete accounts, I had another issue on this.

I’ve created an account on a discourse forum some time ago. And created alot of posts, with in depth information about my experience and research I had done on the topic.

Because of ill and sensitive management, banning me without giving explanation, I have not been able to remove the content I posted there.

I am not safe with this information out there, and it’s now obvious to me management can’t handle sensitive content responsibly.

After creating multiple accounts, seeing the company behind the forum isn’t reachable in any other way, to explain I want all of the content deleted.

They refuse to follow up on my request, and following in a ban on that account before being able to reply.

Seeing there is no way to remove this content myself, I’m looking for advice here.

Deleting content was generally not possible either as any deletion of it had to go through moderation as well. Also the mods would frequently restore removed content as well.

What can I do to make sure the content i posted is permanently removed from their forum? What can I do to revoke public access (including moderators) to anything I have posted there?

Thanks.

-Andrew

PS: Sorry if this is not 100% fitting to the forum.
I just have no clue where else to go. I figure people here know what to do since the forum is based on discourse.

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Unfortunately I don’t think there’s anything you can do in the case of stubborn site admins. It’s a “their house their rules” situation.

Perhaps there are local privacy laws you can look into? EU residents have some right to deletion under the GDPR, and some businesses operating in California need to adhere to the CCPA… and I’m sure there are other various laws that may or may not apply. Unfortunately at that point you might need to involve a lawyer…

Sorry I don’t have better advice to offer, that sounds like a frustrating situation.

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Regarding the GDPR, you may use this as sample:

————

To Whom It May Concern:

I am hereby requesting immediate erasure of personal data concerning me according to Article 17 GDPR.

[Please erase all personal data concerning me as defined by Article 4(1) GDPR.]

[Please delete the following personal data concerning me:
Specify the data to be deleted here.]

I am of the opinion that the requirements set forth in Article 17(1) GDPR are fulfilled. You cannot claim an exception based on Article 17(3) GDPR either, particularly as I am not a public figure.

If I have given consent to the processing of my personal data (e.g. according to Article 6(1) or Article 9(2) GDPR), I am hereby withdrawing said consent for the entire process.
In addition, I am objecting to the processing of personal data concerning me (which includes profiling), according to Article 21 GDPR. I request that you restrict the processing of the data concerning me pending the verification whether your legitimate grounds override mine, pursuant to Art. 18(1)(d) GDPR.

If you have made the aforementioned data public, you are obliged pursuant to Article 17(2) GDPR to take all reasonable steps to inform other controllers, including search engine operators, who process the personal data listed above, that I have requested the erasure of all links, copies or replications. This applies not only to exact copies of the data concerned, but also to those from which information contained in the data concerned can be derived.

In case you have disclosed the affected personal data to third parties, you have to communicate my request for erasure of the affected personal data, as well as any references to it, to each recipient as laid down in Article 19 GDPR. Please also inform me about those recipients.

If you object to the requested erasure, you have to justify that to me.

My request explicitly includes any other services and companies for which you are the controller as defined by Article 4(7) GDPR.

As laid down in Article 12(3) GDPR, you have to confirm the erasure to me without undue delay and in any event within one month of receipt of the request.

I am including the following information necessary to identify me:
Enter your identification data here. This often includes information like your name, your date of birth, your address, your email address and so on.

If you do not answer my request within the stated period, I am reserving the right to take legal action against you and to lodge a complaint with the responsible supervisory authority.

Thank you in advance.

Yours sincerely,

Enter your name here.

————

Sample from www.datarequests.org

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The GDPR will most likely not be a solution.

  • Your posts by itself usually do not contain personal identifiable information;
  • Even if they do the forum owner has a legitimate interest in keeping the discussion topic intact;
  • And you have most likely given the forum owners a license to (use) the content you posted.

Personally I don’t completely understand how certain posts being out there on the internet suddenly become a problem as soon as you have a problem with the forum owner (or as soon as they have a problem with you). But I might have incomplete information here.

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Okay I know enough.

Thanks, for this, and for the reference material in the other thread.

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