Do you put all your photos and files on the cloud? This internet user's mishap will surely make you rethink your backup strategy. Here's what happened.
It's never been easier to back up your files. A simple drag and drop into a cloud service window and you're done. Online storage has become so commonplace that simply creating a Google or Microsoft account gives you access to several gigabytes for free. You're not required to use it, of course, but it's clear that many people do so to free up space on their PC or smartphone's hard drive.
Others prefer good old external media, considering them more reliable and, above all, independent of major tech companies. Your USB drive is yours, and barring a technical failure, it will always be there when you need it. Reddit user deus03690 thinks so too. He usually stores his photos and other files on multiple hard drives. One day, he needs to clear them out and chooses to temporarily switch to OneDrive. He shouldn't have.
User Transfers 30 Years of Data to OneDrive, Loses It All for No Reason
“The plan was simple: upload to OneDrive, then transfer to a new drive later,” deus03690 explains. He therefore places “30 years of irreplaceable photos and work” on Microsoft’s service, which immediately suspends his account “without warning, without reason and without any legitimate recourse”. The user writes to support 18 times, but receives only automated responses that lead nowhere.
Spontaneously, he says to himself that “[Microsoft] cannot hold someone’s entire digital life hostage without due process, without warning and without accountability”. A logical opinion, basically, except that it is worthless compared to the terms of use of the Microsoft account, required to connect to OneDrive. They are very clear on this subject.
Can Microsoft delete your data stored on OneDrive?
The answer is yes: “If your Microsoft account is closed (whether by you or us), several things happen. First, your rights to use your Microsoft account to access the Services end immediately. Second, we will delete the Data or Your Content associated with your Microsoft account[…]. Third, you may no longer have access to the products you have purchased.”
The Remond firm itself advises “having a regular backup plan.” The American version of the document also specifies that “Microsoft will not be able to recover your content or data once your account is closed.” In other words, there is theoretically no recourse possible.
In the case of deus03690, it is unclear what prompted the account closure. A OneDrive bug has previously prevented users from accessing their files, but this was only temporary. In this case, users are more likely to believe this was a violation of the service's terms of use, likely recorded by an automated system. Without knowing the content of the transferred files, it is impossible to say whether such a procedure would be justified in this case.
In any case, commenters are stressing the importance of not relying exclusively on online storage. One of them mentions the "3-2-1" rule, i.e., three copies in total, two on different physical media, and one in the cloud. As for the possible recourse in the event of such a mishap, it seems very limited. Some offer convoluted tips for contacting a Microsoft advisor by phone, while others suggest consulting a lawyer directly. In neither case, of course, there are any guarantees.
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