The Cloud is just someone else's computer

[gcode]

20 Years of Digital Life, Gone in an Instant

Summary: A major brick-and-mortar store sold an Apple Gift Card that Apple seemingly took offence to, and locked out my entire Apple ID, effectively bricking my devices and my iCloud Account, Apple Developer ID, and everything associated with it, and I have no recourse. Can you help? Email paris AT paris.id.au (and read on for the details). ❤️

Update 14 December 2025: Someone from Executive Relations at Apple says they're looking into it. I hope this is true. They say they'll call me back tomorrow, on 15 December 2025. In the mean time, it's been covered by Daring Fireball, Apple Insider, Michael Tsai, and others, thanks folks! I've received 100s of emails of support, and will reply to you all in time, thank you. Finger's crossed Apple calls back.

Second Update 14 December 2025: No luck so far, and not looking good. Anyone got a good lawyer to send them a letter and/or help me sue them? paris AT paris.id.au

Update 16 December 2025: The Register covered it. No luck yet.

FAQ
The original post continues below, but to answer some questions:

Yes, I have the receipt for the card, including the activation receipt.
Yes, the card was legitimately purchased, it's not from eBay.
Yes, I have contacted the retailer.
Yes, I do have backups. That isn't the point; the hardware is somewhat (MacBook Pro, iPhone) to completely (iPad, Apple Watch, AirPods, Apple TV, HomePod) useless.
No, I don't know why parts of the account still kinda work, and parts don't.
No, I didn't write this article with AI, I just tried to make it clear what was going on with headings, and I've been writing for a LONG time.
Yes, Apple really did use emojis in their Live Chat.
Yes, I am in contact with Australian Government regulators and ombudsmen, but that process takes months to allocate cases.
Yes, I'll write to my local Federal Member, Andrew Wilkie. He's helped me with many things before, but Apple is still Apple.
Yes, I have had problems with Wise and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia in the past. No, I'm not a glutton for punishment. I don't know what's going on.
Yes, my business recovered their money from Wise, but the AFCA complaint is ongoing (as I said, the process is slow).
No, WWDR, and friends in SWE/SRE at Apple haven't been able to help beyond trying to escalate.

[JParis]

Friends don't let friends use Apple

[SuperHoneyBadger]

This is one of those "got what they voted for" moments.

You don't physically own it? You have zero control. Full stop.

I proudly have zero GB hosted on anyone's cloud, and I never will. Further, I pledge to continually eradicate OneDrive wherever I roam, one machine at a time, and relentlessly roast those around me who choose the Fruit Phone.

[DUM1]

get a digital ID they said..
 get the digital money they said...
   what could go wrong?

[CNCAppsJames]

I am THE ONLY one in my family without a fruit phone. I will NEVER own one. EVER. Under ANY circumstances. I'll go back to a flip phone. IDGAF.

People talk about the "Trump cult"... nevermind they are in the Apple cult with no remourse.

#Hypoctites

 

[Brian]

I'm not usually one to rush to defend Apple or any of the tech companies , but you really can keep your data local....it's clear that they want to get your stuff in the cloud, but iPhone users can still backup their stuff locally.

[Smit]

I've never understood why people would want to put their stuff in the cloud. Especially stuff that might be sensitive.

Hell, you can get a 2 TB portable hard drive for $80 bucks now.

[mowens]

Work bought me an external hard drive years ago because of the size of many of my models. I moved my archive stuff onto that but something was niggling at the back of my mind. I started burning dvds with my archived stuff. Not long after, the external hard drive crashed.

[Newbeeee™]

but iPhone users can still backup their stuff locally.

Isn't this face about azz?
You default keep local, and back up to A.N.Other or teh cloud if you're stoooopid!?!?!?