Tell HN: Google deleted my spreadsheet, review request says file can’t be found
by ohashi on Hacker News.
I have (or had as it seems now) a spreadsheet in google docs tracking important business metrics. I was trying to look at it today and got the message: “We’re sorry. You can’t access this item because it is in violation of our Terms of Service. If you feel this is in error, please request a review. Find out more about this topic at the Google Drive Help Center.” If I click the request a review I get: “404. That’s an error. Sorry, this item cannot be found or is not available.” This spreadsheet simply had metrics and domains. I find it near impossible it was violating any terms of service unless there is a shadow blacklist of domain names which somehow trigger a file being removed. And I’m left with no recourse to even request a review or get my file back? I turned on airplane mode on my phone and was able to get an old cached copy, export was only possible as a PDF. So at least I have a slightly stale version of raw data that way. Even as a paying customer, this is pretty embarrassing and there seems no recourse is possible?