Not quite the same, but the GDPR gives you a right to erasure.

OKRainbowKid · 2026-09-02T06:48:26

And afaik it also quite strictly regulates which data you're allowed to collect and process and for which reasons. But on hackernews I feel it is more often than not represented as a symbol of EU bureaucracy, being to blame for cookie banners, and/or designed to extort money from poor helpless trillion dollar US corporations.

vrganj · 2026-09-02T07:17:07

Maybe the bureaucracy is there for a reason some times?

Maybe the poor helpless US corporations shouldn't be collecting 153M+ drivers licenses?

Maybe some of the HN audience is trying to collect 153M drivers licenses themselves and labeling it innovation or monetization model?

Hm.

OKRainbowKid · 2026-09-02T09:40:25

In case it wasn't obvious: I do not at all agree with these complaints about the GDPR or EU.

wokkel · 2026-09-02T11:01:36

Unfortunately no right to audit. So deletion is a pinky promise.

randunel · 2026-09-02T08:27:55

Actually GDPR is exactly what they're asking to. Possession of personal data that is not required for a service's functionality is illegal under GDPR.

wolvoleo · 2026-09-02T09:54:45

Well unless it was stored with freely given permission of course.

But it has to be freely given. "Give permission or you can't use this service" is not ok for data that isn't required to provide the service.

subscribed · 2026-09-02T10:47:45

It must be freely given anyway, but its still illegal to keep unless proportional and necessary for the stated purpose.

If the purpose wasn't "we keep to resell it later" it's likely illegal.

Well, "illegal" given that this type of criminality is pretty much ignored (I've been fobbed off by the regulator after pointing a systematic law-breaking by a $company many many many times. Still better than not having this).