Dumped by Google

A situation that reveals just how little accountability Google has to us, their users.
Google
(Carlos LunaCC BY 2.0)

Earlier this year, Tienlon Ho found herself locked out of her Google account for a seemingly minor infraction. Which, among other things, revealed just how little accountability Google has to us, their users.

…it had occurred to me when I had moved my work and memories into the “cloud” that I was relying on other people to keep them safe on their servers. But I figured a company with $50 billion in revenues and the modest aim to “organize the world’s information” had to run a tight ship. Anyway, it seemed implicit that in allowing Google to use my data, I could rely on Google to hold on to it — and to give it back.

In reality, I discovered, Google assumes no responsibility over user data nor is it required by law to do so.

Don’t rely on a single service — especially a single free service — for everything. Also, archive everything that’s important to you.

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