Can we add a way for users to delete their own account? I get that being able to delete all your posts could be harmful if you are a user with many posts, but I think there should at least be a way in the UI for users to send a deletion request, like this Discourse component. To be clear, I am not requesting to have my account deleted.
2 Likes
If a user wishes to delete their account it’s as simple as messaging @moderators or anyone on the Mod team and we take care of it. That plugin appears to be an automated way of making the request to the mods, it doesn’t actually delete anything.
Discourse software provides two options:
-
Anonymization. This assigns the user a random string of text as their account name, scrubs their profile, and closes the account. This is preferred because it keeps conversations (replies to stuff written and topics) intact.
-
Complete account deletion. This removes everything and breaks conversations and topics the person created or participated in. It is more difficult for an older account with a lot of posts but it can be done. This is irrecoverable if a user later changes their mind.
For GDPR compliance you can also request an archive of your account activity on your profile page at any time.
I vote for Option #1, which maintains the integrity of archived conversations while fulfilling the user’s request for disassociation from their comments. By keeping the discussion thread intact, future readers can follow the natural flow of conversations without encountering fragmented or confusing dialogue gaps.
I prefer option 1 also for the forums sake but ultimately it is up to the user to decide.
GDPR laws mandate that users have the “right to be forgotten” and data removed if they so choose:
2 Likes