It’s been some years that I am not able to log in to my Google account, because I stopped using it for a very long time any Google product, and now even providing my password, they say they can not know if it is me or now…

They send me to this support page which seems like I have lost my account with all the data and stuff I had from when I was younger…

I don’t think this is normal or ethic to do (I know Google has been never ethic), but this makes me so angry because I never wanted to lose all that data…

Do they basically know every people networks? And if you don’t let them know… you lose access to Google? … 😠

  • Elias Griffin@lemmy.worldEnglish
    755·
    1 year ago

    It gets worse. Not having used my Gmail account for years, old phone died, moved to another state with new number there, and I traveled back to Los Angeles in order to log in on the same network, same laptop, correct password, but I put a new HDD in my Macbook Pro which caused Apple to re-ID the OS, and locked out! No way to recover, I try twice a year. Will not even reset to the correct backup email I have! I just get an email saying I tried to login with no actions possible!

    Google stole parts of my life from me, the history in those emails, wow!

    STOLEN

    I AM NOT MY PHONE

      • digdilem@lemmy.ml
        142·
        1 year ago

        In Europe you own your data.

        Er, that’s not quite what the GDPR means and doesn’t apply in this case. In fact, Google could cite the GDPR in making sure that OPs data doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.

        The GDPR gives you a bunch of rights if you’re a EU or UK citizen, including the right for data /about you/ to be forgotten or disclosed. It doesn’t mean google have to hold onto stuff indefinitely (quite the reverse) or provide OP access if they can’t meet Google’s security requirements.

        • xvlc@feddit.deEnglish
          4·
          1 year ago

          You can request a copy of your data according to Art. 15 of the GDPR. If they reject this, escalate to your local data protection authority. This way, you could gain access to the data even if Google tries to block you.

          … well, theoretically, at least.

          • digdilem@lemmy.ml
            2·
            1 year ago

            Two points here:

            1. If they still have OPs data. It’s entirely possible Google is using this technique as a blind because they’ve just expired the account. There are big headlines for “Google deleted my data”, and much smaller ones for “I couldn’t log into my Google account because I lost my phone”

            2, To make a SAR (Subject Access Request), which is what you’re referring to - you need to be able to prove your identity beyond reasonable doubt. Google would obviously refuse that if you can’t log into your account. It would actually be illegal for them to provide that data without such proof, which is why you need to log in to access the Google Takeout features that provide most or all the data a SAR would include.