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Comment by abhisuri97 | Hacker News Reader

Wouldn't it be best for google to allow you to download a takeout of all your files in the case that your account is suspended?

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They do, and the service is called, drum roll, Google Takeout.

https://takeout.google.com/settings/takeout

I know, but it seems from the author's post that they were just locked out completely with no option to use google takeout to retrieve their photos etc.

The assumption is that takeout would not work anymore once you are suspended. So unless you are proactive and takeout your data every day, you will probably lose some data

But, according to gdpr, they still have your data even if you're "suspended", so they should make it available to you.

I haven't had a suspended account yet but if google really doesn't let you copy your data under any circumstance, they will have even more fun with the data protection agencies.

Google isn't really known for their respect of the GDPR.

Last time I tried Takeout, to backup an account I was about to delete, they demanded a phone number to "confirm mu identity". No, thank you.

I configured NeoMutt to grab the e-mais (the only thing I had on it) and that's it.

You're sure it works on suspended accounts?

"..best for google.."

If google gave a crap they would put a phone number to that email so you can talk to a human and resolve any issue. From numerous conversations in HN and iRL, everyone who has a spat with the G-people is royally screwed. A true hostage.

What you suggest would be great for the user. But why would google care for that? You broke their rules, you have to pay. Here, have some pain.

I don't blame them for having rules. I blaim the G-users for accepting them and giving google all this power, that is often (and stupidly) mis/ab-used.

On the other hand, I have to admit that for less technical folks, having all-in-one is a life saver. Vast majority of the member of this forum though do not belong to that group.

> If google gave a crap they would put a phone number to that email so you can talk to a human and resolve any issue

Do you know how insanely hard that would be to staff and manage such an operations for a global corporation? It had a 1 BILLION MAU back in 2015.

Google One gets you 1 year of access to human support for a year so apparently not that hard. I'm sure many people would rather pay that amount just to get their ban reviewed rather than lose their existing email, chat, photos, files, and phone number. The 3 other ~1 trillion dollar tech companies all have customer support without issue.

I think once the account is banned, then you can't log into account to buy that Google One membership. You need to buy it before the ban.

I don't even know if you still use Google One support post account ban I was just pointing out Google is not only capable but they already operate a human support service at extremely low cost.

This is Google, Facebook et. all’s argument for not doing any content moderation, customer support, etc: “it’s hard”

Somehow Amazon, Microsoft, and Apple all manage to maintain real human tech support at FAANG scale. Yet the online-first tech companies can't seem to achieve the same. I wonder why that is?

Your knowledge of Controls in conjunction with Operations needs readjustments. If you place a drastic control (e.g. a Bank with 20mil customers has 24/7 anti-fraud call center) such as a bank blocking your card, the bank makes sure that it won't cripple you and has someone that can talk to you 24/7. That costs. Banks make the decision to make this work, at a certain cost.

Apparently Google can disrupt the service, and leave you hanging.

Controls (block bank card, suspend Google account) are enforced with with a specific impact in mind and a specific mitigating factors.

I am not saying that "banks care". I am saying that banks give .... while Google doesn't.

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