A few hours after posting this I received another email, saying that per my request the account is being removed. I can see it removed now; I guess that's the reason the ticket is no longer there. Happy to see it resolved.
34 karma · joined October 24, 2019
In order to leave the feedback "there", one has to accept new Terms of Service. Folks who refused new TOS can not log in... Just in case if not all GitLab employees realize how bad the situation is.
But here's the feedback using HN, the user-friendly platform:
Please add an option to "delete and erase account" button when user decides to decline the new TOS.
This was initial response from GitLab to my request (let's call it Template1):
> We understand that you want to completely remove your GitLab.com account.
> Due to the complexity of servicing these requests, we're asking our users to
> please email gdpr-request at gitlab.com.
> Please ensure that you:
> - send the email from the address associated with your GitLab.com account
> - include the GitLab username you'd like removed
I did send an email to that address repeating my request, but shortly after I received this response (let's call it Template2):
> We have additional updates with regards to our TOS and Telemetry services
> below:
> We understand that the recent announcement regarding the update to our Terms of
> Service, specifically in regards to Telemetry, can lead to questions you have
> about how it impacts your usage of GitLab.
> To answer those questions and gather feedback on this recent update, we have
> created this Issue with additional clarification. As we firmly believe that
> everyone can contribute, we want to assure you all feedback you provide via the
> Issue is both welcome and appreciated.
> Kindly advise if you would still want us to proceed with this request.
I repeated my request, reaffirming that I want to remove and erase my account. In response, they sent "Template1" email again.
Edit:
to be fair, it's been less than 24 hours since the request, and the repeated template-response from GitLab may have been a hiccup on the support side.
But the whole new TOS switch could be handled much better and without dark patterns, i.e. during login, two buttons:
[Accept new TOS] [Decline and erase account]
However, right now there's simply no option to handle account removal conveniently when I want to decline the new TOS.
HN is a good opportunity to reach out, so I will use it: there's some kind of dark pattern employed during this Terms-Of-Service switch.
GitLab does not allow to login without accepting the new TOS, which means that I cannot remove my account without accepting the new TOS.
I didn't use gitlab that much anyway, but the TOS change just reminded me about the need to close the account... yet "you must accept the TOS to login" does not allow to remove the account. So, accepting the new TOS is kind of forced upon if you want to find your way out (in other words, it's made inconvenient and we-will-drag-our-feet otherwise).
Can someone take a look into it? I received two template-responses from email support, but no action.
My support request is 136340.