Google users locked out after 15 years' use

Re:Google users locked out after 15 years' use by _trampeltier on Monday November 02, 2020 @06:43AM (#24966991)

Google is a private company. So they can choose there customers. If they don't want you, they are free to throw you out.

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Re:Google users locked out after 15 years' use by jpambrun on Monday November 02, 2020 @07:36AM (#24967459)

At some point companies are large enough that not having an account is an handicap. IIRC, the supreme court of Canada mentioned in a ruling that Facebook terms are unenforceable because they can't be negotiated and because not having an account in too consequential. In essence, it's not a agreement you freely enter in. It was about forced arbitration.

My point is there are limits that what private companies can do. Stretching the boundaries like that is sure to cause a strong regulatory reaction at some point.

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Re:Google users locked out after 15 years' use by smabie on Monday November 02, 2020 @09:15AM (#24968293)

Lots of people don't have a FB acct or don't use it anymore. It's largely died off unless you are old.

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Re:Google users locked out after 15 years' use by jpambrun on Monday November 02, 2020 @11:25AM (#24969786)

That's not really relevant to the argument, but just s/facebook/new_hip_site if it helps..

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Re:Google users locked out after 15 years' use by itsoktocry on Monday November 02, 2020 @07:59AM (#24967662)

>So they can choose there customers.

And we are free to complain and vote to change those rules. Guess what happens then?

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Re:Google users locked out after 15 years' use by goatinaboat on Monday November 02, 2020 @08:50AM (#24968084)

Google is a private company. So they can choose there customers. If they don't want you, they are free to throw you out.

I do love these sorts of arguments. There is a modern expression that goes "f* around and find out". Like Standard Oil did.

https://www.britannica.com/event/Sherman-Antitrust-Act

When you have governments using Google logins or schools communicating with parents via Facebook groups, or state broadcasters reporting on Twitter as news, then the line between private company and public utility has been crossed.

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Re:Google users locked out after 15 years' use by TomSwirly on Monday November 02, 2020 @06:53AM (#24967072)

And steal your data? Bullshit.

The worst is that they are certainly keeping your data, because they never throw anything out, while they are preventing you from getting to it.

That is theft, pure and simple.

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Re:Google users locked out after 15 years' use by x86_64Ubuntu on Monday November 02, 2020 @09:26AM (#24968400)

That's not theft in the least. They kept the data that you gave them while using their service. Should banks throw out records for people who close accounts?

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