Staying in late 2008, and continuing until I clicked that final “delete account” button in spring 2010, I gradually removed as much info as I could from my Facebook account (not that I ever had much in the first place). I noticed something interesting: some data I’d only entered once, like the name of the city I live in, had to be deleted 2-3 times, from different places in the profile.
Now it’s hard to be certain, since I was analysing a black box, but what that tells me is that a) the database tables are getting altered frequently and b) the tables are not very well organised. I’d also guess, based on the ads and recommendations served to me in FB, that the database FB uses for marketing/analysis is separate from the profile/interaction one. After all, they track your browsing history even when you’re not on FB and add that to their overall data.
So even though I deleted my account in 2010 and blocked them in my host files and router after that, I’ve never believed all my data was deleted entirely.
Which is a long way of saying I believe revenge porn creep’s data is still around too, though maybe not in the profile database.
Frankly I’m astounded that Facebook really does delete the data. Or maybe–and this is my deep cynic speaking–they have all the account information but don’t want to reveal that they’re not keeping it and continuing to use it.
I agree that the ideal solution is Facebook deleting records for voluntary account closure and retain it for involuntary account closure, but can we at least agree that the issue is very complicated?
Should all involuntary account closures have their data retained? What about non-harassment EULA violations? What about for minors?
Facebook should be commended for trying to do the right thing, even if they did not foresee all the consequences of their actions.
It’s interesting, when FB had a policy of unlimited retention in the their EULA everyone freaked out and flailed about how FB could there information AND own it (pics and all) for an unlimited amount of time.
Fast forward to today and mechanisms they have implemented to comply with the EU Right to be Forgotten and let’s watch the uninformed flail again and say things like, “they don’t every delete their data.”
Having worked in a business (some may have heard of these things) it’s clear that misrepresentation of public policy will circle back and crush you. If FB is retaining forever as some here believe, a former employee at some point will out them. It does them no good to lie in this respect because there are too many people that would have to be in on it. There are literally dozens of Backup Administrators, dozens of Retention and Archive Administrators being paid anywhere from $50,000 to well north of $175K per year depending on position and title.
If find it ridiculous that claims about FB having the ability to help catch a revenge porn poster and not assisting in actually doing it are even being made.
Can’t we just ask the NSA for a backup?
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