Tim BrayDec 16, 2022

If you’re going to leave Twitter, please don’t
a) delete your account, because someone bad will steal your handle
b) delete your Tweets, because their existence doesn’t help Elon and it’s like burning the Library of Alexandria.

Twitter captures a real-time historical record of a couple of decades and the billions of individuals’ snapshots are irreplaceable.

The thought of all those tweets being erased makes me feel physically sick.

[please pass on if you agree.]

Show threadMike ElyDec 16, 2022
@timbray my approach was to download my twitter data (in the hopes that it might someday be updatable) and null out my account but keep it active. That way if sanity regains I can simply upload my archive and get back to it.
Show threadTrowzers
@me @timbray
I requested my data but they never sent me anything. How long did it take to get yours?
Dec 16, 2022 at 8:44amWeb
Show threadTim BrayDec 16, 2022
@trowzers @me A day or so.
Show threadMats HenricsonDec 16, 2022
@timbray @trowzers @me it can take at least 55 hours
Show threadFor the love of humanityDec 17, 2022
@matsh @timbray @trowzers @me
🤣🤣 sorry. But I really appreciated this.
Show threadLaurence M 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Dec 16, 2022
@trowzers @me @timbray be ready for big files - couple of gig .. I had to log on with my laptop and store the data on an external hard drive so I didn’t swallow loads of laptop space. Took about a week for my notification
Show threadperaDec 16, 2022

@trowzers @me @timbray I had the same issue so I submitted a GDPR Subject Access Request, they acknowledged receipt but haven't fulfilled it yet, and since 40 days have passed I made a complaint to my local authority.

I encourage everyone to do the same. My guess is that Twitter doesn't have a GDPR/DPA team anymore.

Show threadDwight Williams (💉 x9)+😷🇨🇦Dec 16, 2022
@trobador @trowzers @me @timbray I expect that Musk is deliberately signalling disrespect for the EU GDPR by having closed the Brussels offices.
Show threadSpicewallaDec 16, 2022

@trowzers @me @timbray I've seen reports that twitter does not consistently notify people when their data is ready to download. The recommendation was that people should check it themselves once or twice a day after they submit their request.

One person got their notification so late that twitter had already deleted their downloadable data and they had submit another request.

Show threadTrowzersDec 16, 2022
@Spicewalla @me @timbray That's a bit sucky as you literally get a message saying 'We'll notify you when it's ready' when you initiate the request. But anyway, it's been weeks and I've heard nothing so I'm trying again.
Show threadink cannery girlDec 16, 2022
@trowzers @me @timbray I requested mine on Saturday 11/18 morning and got the email it was ready on 11/21 afternoon
Show threadTransitBikerDec 17, 2022
@trowzers @me @timbray a week.
Show threadMike ElyDec 17, 2022
@trowzers @timbray probably around a week. I don't remember exactly.
Show threadtoybuilderDec 17, 2022
@trowzers @me @timbray it took almost two weeks for me. 11 days, I think?
Show threadTrowzersDec 18, 2022
@toybuilder @me @timbray
Well, this time it worked within 24 hours. But never saw a notification the first time. Must have done it at a time when that stuff was broken. But now I find that although the deleted tweet data is there, they don't display in the list of tweets via the HTML viewer, which is annoying :P