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Can members delete accounts on your forums?
- Thread starter Randy
- Start date
I've seen a lot of people over the years request a account deletion and then later regret it and make a new account. That's why I don't delete accounts right away. I'll tell the member we'll revisit the topic of account deletion at a later date. If they are persistent in their request then I'll grant their wish eventually.
This isn't even a feature on Jcink and if it were, I wouldn't allow it. I think some people would make a regrettable decision if they decided to come back to the forum at a later date and you might get upset at one tiny aspect of the forum, delete your account, then come back and want your account back. I think the primary reason for an account deletion would be for privacy reasons, which I can understand if they have a lot of posts it would be hard to go and edit out all of the personal information. I prefer account deletions to go through an administrator first.
This is the right way to go. Deleting an account right away when a member wants it might be acting too quick. There is no option for a member to delete their accounts on my forum and I still think that it doesn't make a whole lot of sense too. Better you logout and come back whenever you wish instead of asking for your account to be deleted.
What about following the law? GDPR grants the EU users a right to delete that information regardless of where you are based.
Is GDPR an EU law? If so, how can it affect those that live outside of the EU?
Trust me, been there done that.
Basically if you store or process the personal data of EU residents, which chances are, you do if you own a public forum, the law applies to you.
How can the EU force that law on US companies and organiziations? International laws, territory laws and treaties really.
Now at the end of the day, is the EU really going to come down on some random forum owner? No. But in this day and age where data and privacy are a huge topic, are you going to be that one person who ends up being a dick and gives the middle finger to their users?
It's 2023. Respect your users
No, I would gladly delete a user's account for privacy reasons. Already have, in fact. But I would probably first insist they keep their account and just delete all their personal information where possible, and if they don't want to do that, then bye-bye account.
Members cannot directly remove their accounts, however this is to prevent abuse in accordance with the Terms and Conditions. However, if a user requests removal of their data, unless we have a lawful reason to keep processing it, it will be removed in accordance with GDPR in the 30 day period. I wouldn't remove any posts though, unless they contain personal identifiable information to that person.
What about following the law? GDPR grants the EU users a right to delete that information regardless of where you are based.
Trust me, been there done that.
Basically if you store or process the personal data of EU residents, which chances are, you do if you own a public forum, the law applies to you.
How can the EU force that law on US companies and organiziations? International laws, territory laws and treaties really.
Now at the end of the day, is the EU really going to come down on some random forum owner? No. But in this day and age where data and privacy are a huge topic, are you going to be that one person who ends up being a dick and gives the middle finger to their users?
It's 2023. Respect your users
Nobody is afraid of the EU
It’s not something my forum offers by default. I have not received such a request yet, or in the past on previous forums, so I’m not sure how I would deal with it.
So we do NOT delete accounts and we do NOT delete posts. We offer "deactivation" only. It will be clear to everyone that they are no longer a member. They can always reactivate and return at any time.
Now if someone wants to throw the GDPR in my face, we will remove all their personal account data and change their username IF it was similar to their real name. Their posts don't get deleted though.
Now if someone wants to throw the GDPR in my face, we will remove all their personal account data and change their username IF it was similar to their real name. Their posts don't get deleted though.
Not really, but like I saidNobody is afraid of the EU
It's 2023. Respect your users
Thats all the requirement is. You don't have to delete all their posts. Only personable identifying information. (Also, a username/handle counts as this personal identifying information. So if it's not close to their real name is irrelevant)
There is an add-on for it on XF.
Doesn't XenForo have it built in?
On the admin side, yes. On the member side, you need to install this for them: https://xenforo.com/community/resources/liam-w-rip-member-self-delete.5570/
As long as you make it clear an account cannot be un-deleted and the member will have to start from zero if they re-register
