(ANS)What is the PH policy on deleting user data on request?

[hyphen]

Since the other thread has been locked, I thought I would ask on here.

There are other members in that thread citing that PH will not remove all user data on request, this seems contrary to what should be the case.

Can PH (not other users please) state the policy please so it is clear.

Thanks

[xjay1337]

In before the ban.

[Jack Mansfield]

Hi Hyphen,

We absolutely do remove all user data on request! its against the rather terrifying data laws to do otherwise, so any request to delete any or all data relating to that user is dealt with properly.

Hope that helps.

Jack

[hyphen]

Thanks was quick!

Many thanks Jack

[bitchstewie]

Jack, what constitutes "user data" please?

Just for when I throw my toys as men on the internet have upset me..

[anonymous-user]

Indeed. What is meant by "user data" is key.

[pc.iow]

.. and could Google be asked to do the same?

[hyphen]

bhstewie said:

Jack, what constitutes "user data" please?

Hi Jack,

Please can you advise as above? Thanks

[Chester draws]

And does "any or all data relating to that user" include their posts that have subsequently been quoted by another user...?

[Vaud]

Jack Mansfield said:

Hi Hyphen,

We absolutely do remove all user data on request! its against the rather terrifying data laws to do otherwise, so any request to delete any or all data relating to that user is dealt with properly.

Hope that helps.

Jack

Are you sure?

You can remove all posts by a user and all of their quoted posts? (Without borking the forum?)

[Jack Mansfield]

Hi All,

I've had a chat with our data controller because I am by no means a data expert (if in doubt, ask and all that...) and I've been given a very handy bit of information which should clear things up a bit:

The Data Protection Act 1998 refers to Personal Data - this is defined as:


Personal data means data which relate to a living individual who can be identified –

(a) from those data, or (b) from those data and other information which is in the possession of, or is likely to come into the possession of, the data controller, and includes any expression of opinion about the individual and any indication of the intentions of the data controller or any other person in respect of the individual. It is important to note that, where the ability to identify an individual depends partly on the data held and partly on other information (not necessarily data), the data held will still be “personal data”.


Anyone who wants to know how PistonHeads/Haymarket handles their personal data should refer to our Privacy Policy:
www.haymarket.com/privacy

Any questions relating to privacy and personal data handled by PistonHeads/Haymarket Media Group Limited should be emailed into [e-mail], as questions about an individuals data cannot be answered on an open forum.

Any questions relating to data held by Google will need to be directed to Google.

The request for data deletion, when it's "web page content", rather than a "database record", is often inter-twined with the "right to be forgotten" hence the reference/question about Google (wishing any trace of them & their history or footprint to be removed from all reference sources). A useful link for some background info & FAQ's is: https://forget.me/faq (caveat: but there are other sites & this does not represent an endorsement by Haymarket.)

As far as what we would delete from a Forum Post & how you'd handle the deletion of re-posted forum posts, this comes under the Forum T&C's and a decision by Editorial at PH, unless it's "personal data" - in which case the Data Subject has the right to request it's deletion and that's what we would do. And yes, it can leave gaps in historical postings and re-postings..

Hope that helps guys

Edited by Jack Mansfield on Monday 19th December 16:24