The linked support forum article is very short on detail. But assuming you've been locked out of your Gmail account and [as quoted in the linked post "...have years of important emails attached to [the] account...":<p>1: Don't depend on Google, Amazon, Facebook, Twitter etc. not to suddenly lock you out of your account for no apparent reason.<p>2: Don't expect to be able to get through to anyone at Google, Amazon, Facebook, Twitter etc. who cares about your problem, if it does happen.<p>3: If you do insist on using a service like Gmail, don't keep all your eggs in the webmail basket. Access your account via an email client with IMAP. Then, if you get locked out, you'll at least still have your email archives and can move on from there.<p>It never ceases to amaze me the people who trust monolithic unaccountable 3rd parties with their "important" data and then compound the issue by not having a local copy to fall back on.
This feat about getting locked on Google Accouints will cost google customers. Last week I wanted to try a Google Cloud API, but I stopped when I had to fill a form with more billing information . At that moment I though soemthing like "what if something weird happens with my test script and Google flags my account? " then I was thinking "maybe I make a new test account" but then next though "making a new account could also be a flag and could cost me my main account" so I just gave up.
I can only repeat myself but maybe there will be a change if HN would show sympathy to deplatforming that happens on Twitter, Facebook, Reddit etc.<p>Every single time someone posts about those the majority of replies here, are "They are a private company so they can do whatever they want!"<p>There is no difference here. Like or comment on a "wrong" Youtube video? Say goodbye to your Google account.
Nothing you can do. Just wait till the AI decides you are a good boy, so you can get back in!<p>Or maybe make a post on HN, and leave it to the mods to take it to the first page so someone at Google can notice and 'contact someone internally'
I'm actually facing the same situation because of a 'use-case limbo' and I'm devastated.<p>Google is locking me out of my 11 years old Google account (Gmail, Adsense, YouTube, Analytics, ...) I use for a side project (electronic music blog) because I'm trying to log in from a new device/country/IP.<p>Alright then, I'll try to recover the account with the security question or the recovery email.<p>Nope, Google doesn't even let me enter the recovery process because of the same error. I can't do anything because of a stupid flag on the account.<p>The best part? Everytime I'm trying to log into my account, I get a security alert email sent to my recovery email. I can say to Google that I don't recognize the connexion (AccountDisavow) but I have NO OPTION to allow it. What's the point of having a recovery email?<p>Can't Google see that it's the same IP trying to log in and trying to access the "Review activity" from the security alert email?<p>If any Google employee is reading this, I'd love some help!
The idea of paying for restoring your account is quite smart, Google, Facebook etc should adopt it. And if it's the algorithm that failed you should also get your money back.
You fail to realize that these disablings/lock outs are but mere pennies to Google. There won't be anything done until they see those said pennies turn into millions or billions of dollars. Google's reputation is already tarnished, IMO, for that and other reasons.<p>So, IOWs, you're wasting everyone's time with this. Just saying.
This isn't your average "Oh no, I became a victim too" post.<p>I want to collect your ideas how we can fix this problem/issue once and for all
Not sure if it's the Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon, but I'm seeing these kinds of posts more frequently nowadays...<p>It's given me some background anxiety about relying on Google for my email, Amazon for my hosting, and so on.
I am curious to know what HN crowd thinks of the MS disabling accounts:
<a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=hotmail+account+disabled+site:answers.microsoft.com" rel="nofollow">https://www.google.com/search?q=hotmail+account+disabled+sit...</a>
As the world we know gets even more digitalized events like these are just going to become even more common..<p>The question arises if the government should intervene and finally make the internet and the online profile it comes with it a basic fundamental right?<p>E.g. when you go and pick up your personal I.D. you should also get your personal email and credentials, so no corporation can make you disappear online..
Good thread to remind everyone who may have rarely-used Google accounts they want to keep: set up regular calendar reminders to login to the accounts.<p>I've recently been locked out of a couple of accounts I hadn't used in more than a year. I didn't forget the password or anything, Google just prevents access to the accounts with no recourse.
While email lockout seems to be solved problem, by using your own domain and doing regular takeout backups or redirecting emails, what should we do about other Google services, that are impossible to use without Google account, e.g. Google Play for app developers and Android users, that purchase apps?
Have any legal experts worked out if GDPR Article 22 "Automated individual decision-making, including profiling" can apply in cases like this?<p>In some cases, this article gives the right to appeal an algorithmic decision and require a human review.<p><a href="https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/law-topic/data-protection/reform/rights-citizens/my-rights/can-i-be-subject-automated-individual-decision-making-including-profiling_en" rel="nofollow">https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/law-topic/data-protection/refo...</a><p><a href="https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-data-protection/guide-to-the-general-data-protection-regulation-gdpr/individual-rights/rights-related-to-automated-decision-making-including-profiling/" rel="nofollow">https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-data-protectio...</a>
Facebook should "do that".<p>I've been unsuccessfully trying to get my account back for 7 years after a "joke" went wrong and someone replaced my profile picture with that of a decaying penis.<p>I realize Facebook can't just "start doing that" at their scale, and that my best luck would be to reach out to someone high-up enough in their organization.<p>So I've been starting to send monthly postcards from France both to Zuck's house and to random executives @Fb Headquarters with a very compelling story explaining how happy I would be if I ever got my memories back, and not just their stupid account backup file.