When you get a thread deleted...

[CrochetBelle]

... does it actually get deleted?

A post by one of your admin suggests it instead gets hidden from view. What would a poster have to do/say to actually have it deleted? And if only hidden, why aren't you more transparent about that?

I don't think it is common parlance to say deleted when you mean hidden.

What about threads that disappear - et from otbt or 30 days and chat?

@crunchymint

Under GDPR people can ask for things to be deleted.

Crunchymint, you're absolutely right that users can delete their personally identifying data - they can do so by deleting their account on their 'My Account' page, and their personally identifying information will then be completely removed from our systems, as GDPR requires.

The content of posts falls into a different category though. As I said, we do remove posts/ threads to be helpful when people hadn't thought things through before posting, and we're always happy to take a look at any posts which a poster worries is identifying to other posters.

If they have broader concerns, though, and wish their details to be permanently deleted from the site, inaccessible to anyone including MNHQ, the way to do that is by deleting their account.

Kate. If I ask you to delete all personal data you hold on me, for example, and remove all my posts, I expect that to mean that they are deleted. Not hidden.

This is the ico definition of personal data:

The GDPR applies to ‘personal data’ meaning any information relating to an identifiable person who can be directly or indirectly identified in particular by reference to an identifier.

If I ask for a post to be deleted because I’ve been identified, then that is information relating to me as an identifiable person.

Why do you not comply with GDPR on this instance and delete it?

You're hugely simplifying GDPR, duck. There are lots of reasons a company can keep data once you've requested that it be deleted.

I don't disagree that MNHQ could be more transparent when they say they're "deleting" though.

And what about chat and 30 days and otbt?

In fact the ico guidance here ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-the-general-data-protection-regulation-gdpr/individual-rights/right-to-erasure/seems to suggest that deletion from social networks falls under right to be forgotten.

Why are you picking and choosing which questions to answer? It seems you've learned from webchats with politicians

What do each of the following mean, in terms of information being kept within the MN system - hidden or visible?:

1)We've deleted this thread as it breaks Talk Guidelines.
2)We've deleted this thread as the poster was concerned about identifying details.
3)We've deleted this thread as the OP is a PBP.
4)Message deleted at user's request.

In which, if any, of these situations is a post deleted?
And why do you insist on leading users to believe a post is deleted when that was never the case? Do you think that is something that should be addressed and made more transparent.

And as duckfuck asked above, what about threads in 30 days / chat / otbt - are they hidden away instead of deleted too? If just hidden, can you please direct me to the bit in the terms and conditions which makes clear that your definition of 'deleted' does not match the expectation that people would have made.

Thank you.

I'm not sure a thread containing no identifying details would fall under the GDPR. And once you've deleted your account that thread cannot be linked to you in any way so it's just anonymised data, surely?

I realise OP is pissed off because they had their arse handed to them on a thread, but I'm not sure that's a valid reason for wiping it from existence.

I realise OP is pissed off because they had their arse handed to them on a thread

Pardon?
Not quite sure what you're referring to here.

And if the thread could be linked to you. MN would delete all comments from that person on request?
My threads can be linked to me in real life. It is not anonymonised data.