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Re:My Data Request: Request your data from over 100 companies by a_imho on Sunday June 17, 2018 @10:42AM (#17332547)
While it is great, there are many instances where you can't make a data request without making an account first including facebook and google services (Alphabet is not on the list btw) which quickly brings up the question, especially if you are European, how to report GDPR violations[1]?

[1]https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17318773

Re:My Data Request: Request your data from over 100 companies by Gasp0de on Sunday June 17, 2018 @10:48AM (#17332570)
I have actually written to facebook (without having an account) and requested my personal data, worked fine. I believe the adress I used was [email protected]. They replied that they do not have any data on me. They requested a copy of my ID though, if I remember correctly.
Re:My Data Request: Request your data from over 100 companies by paulie_a on Sunday June 17, 2018 @11:49AM (#17332859)
I have no doubt they straight up lied to you.
Re:My Data Request: Request your data from over 100 companies by simsla on Sunday June 17, 2018 @12:42PM (#17333092)
Don't see how the gain from that would be worth the risk.
Re:My Data Request: Request your data from over 100 companies by hedora on Sunday June 17, 2018 @01:12PM (#17333225)
They certainly did lie.

When I created a new (my only) facebook account a few years back, it was clear they already knew that about 90% of my friends knew me.

They probably interpreted “what information do you have” as “give me a copy of my account”. If they still do this, someone in a GPDR country (but without a FB account) should go through this exercise, then report the violation.

Re:My Data Request: Request your data from over 100 companies by paulie_a on Sunday June 17, 2018 @01:37PM (#17333338)
There is zero risk and they get money.
Re:My Data Request: Request your data from over 100 companies by a_imho on Sunday June 17, 2018 @01:46PM (#17333380)
They requested a copy of my ID though

I saw this practice in the wild, however I don't quite agree with supplying of any more information. Emails and phone numbers are most often used for identification on the web. What can they even do with an ID? Surely most sites don't store ID numbers.

Re:My Data Request: Request your data from over 100 companies by toxicFork on Sunday June 17, 2018 @04:43PM (#17334233)
They still need to defend against malicious requests; for example how do you know that it's not someone's potential enemy requesting for that information?
Re:My Data Request: Request your data from over 100 companies by Rjevski on Monday June 18, 2018 @02:53AM (#17336398)
But unless they had your ID before, how can they tell it’s the ID of the account owner and not a homonym?

Also how would they defend against fake IDs? If the purpose is to prevent malicious access then they better expect that attackers will try and use fakes.

Re:My Data Request: Request your data from over 100 companies by a_imho on Monday June 18, 2018 @03:59AM (#17336589)
They need to resort to the mechanism agreed upfront to prove identity. Usernames, emails, numbers + passwords, keys etc.

At this point I see this practice mostly as deterrance with a little cya mixed in, possibly with a pinch of data fishing in some rare cases.

However in the future I'm all for providing IDs as a requirement to use webservices if that makes people more conscious about what data they share.

Re:My Data Request: Request your data from over 100 companies by poizan42 on Sunday June 17, 2018 @01:40PM (#17333352)
"The only personal data we have been able to identify related to you is the ID you just sent us. Have a good day."
Re:My Data Request: Request your data from over 100 companies by ernesth on Sunday June 17, 2018 @01:25PM (#17333287)
> They replied that they do not have any data on me.

How could they transmit that info? They at least have stored your mail address.