> There is no such thing as a certification that data was deleted. If someone presented such a thing I would assume they're trying to cover something up. I hav

> There is no such thing as a certification that data was deleted. If someone presented such a thing I would assume they're trying to cover something up. I have news for you. There are standards around data destruction [1]. Courts also order data deletion, to be carried out by forensic experts [2], who trace data in computer systems, and delete what is required, and certify accordingly. This can be done even in cloud-scale compute [3][4][5] - corporate systems especially have routine extensive logging and traceability that allows for this to be accomplished. The companies that I listed earlier specialize in this compliance capability. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_erasure#Standards https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_erasure#Standards [2] https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-ohnd-5_17-cv-02253/pdf/USCOURTS-ohnd-5_17-cv-02253-0.pdf https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-ohnd-5_17-cv-02... [3] https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/paravision_compliance_report_redacted.pdf https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/paravision_comp... [4] https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/Amazon-Proposed-Stipulated-Order-%28Dkt.-2-1%29.pdf https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/Amazon-Proposed... [5] https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/Edmodo-Dkt15%28Order%20Signed%20by%20the%20Court%29.pdf https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/Edmodo-Dkt15%28...