Deleting

Deleting: forget the content, keep the proof

Deleting erases what the memory said but keeps a record that it existed and was deleted.

What happens when you delete

• The text, tags, source and text fingerprint are erased.
• The erased data is wiped from the database files on disk, not just hidden.
• The memory is marked deleted, with the time.
• A “forget” entry is added to the log.

Why not remove every trace

If deleting removed every trace, nobody could ever check whether a deletion was legitimate, or answer “was this ever stored?” during an incident review. Keeping a small, empty record keeps that proof while the content itself is gone.

Expiring is different from deleting

You can give a memory a lifetime in seconds. After it expires it no longer appears in search, but it is not erased. Delete it if you need the content gone.

Your copies

Copies outside AETHER-33, such as your exports, backups or the agent's own conversation, are yours to delete. This helps with erasure requests; it is not legal advice.