It doesn't really effect me because im not intending to delete my account but i was looking though the rules and
In the US, all websites are required to have both a toll-free number and an online process to request account deletion or personal information erasure. As noted earlier, sites don't have to comply with the account deletion request, but they do have to at least anonymize or de-identify your information in that account. A number of states have passed state laws to similar and greater effect.
On top of that given that this website also has EU accounts it also falls under the right to be forgot law (GDPR) which can come with some pretty harsh fines.
Maybe yall have already worked something out legally to cover yourselfs or im misinterpreting something but its something you may want to look into.
...So, I went digging and came up with a whole bunch of points of varying relevance. Then I tossed most of them, thanks to comparing some shit.
The Privacy Policy said:
Rights
...
You also have the right to request the erasure of your personal data. Please
contact us if you would like us to remove your personal data.
The Terms of Service said:
We reserve the rights to remove or modify any Content submitted for any reason without explanation. Requests for Content to be removed or modified will be undertaken only at our discretion. We reserve the right to take action against any account with the Service at any time.
...
If you do not agree with these terms, please do not register or use this Service. If you wish to close your account, please contact us.
QQ Rule Six said:
6: Accounts are not deleted.
- We have decided not to honor account deletion requests for two reasons. One, it's not healthy for the database to have accounts disappearing from it. Two, we just don't want to set that precedent.
- If you absolutely must remove yourself from the forum, a year long tempban can be requested. It will not be lifted until it expires naturally, however. Be sure of your request.
So. The ToS and Privacy Policy say that you can request for your account to be deleted - but Rule Six says that the answer will be 'no' by default.
The ToS
does qualify both 'can ask' and 'won't receive', though. Namely: the word '
request' (used in all three sources), and the phrase
'undertaken at our own discretion'.
---> 'Requests' are not 'Requirements'. 'Requirements' would cover things like DMCA takedown notices. Stretch a point, and it would also no doubt cover official GDPR/CPRA/whatever erasure directions.
---> We can't make QQ('s owner and/or staff) do shit. We
can, under certain circumstances, convince them that shit needs to get done - at which point they do shit on their own recognisance that may or may not match what you asked for in some or all particulars. (Weasel-ish, but what did you expect out of a ToS?)
...Mind you, all this is about account
erasure. You can delete the contents of your own posts in unlocked threads. You can request a name-change, which will usually be honoured. You can also approach QQ staff for help in erasing specific posts in locked threads and/or replies to the information you're worried about. Basically there are a lot of things you can do short of account deletion.
(Oh - and there's nothing stopping QQ from keeping an IP on file, as long as it's kept confidential. If nothing else, they need to keep a record of the request/direction itself. And if that happens to allow them to recognise an IP should the former account-holder ever come back to try damaging the site... well, then that's just a happy accident innit?)
