Summary

Currently, when a user is deleted from Confluence, all references to that user are replaced with the generic label “former-user.” This approach removes all personal identifiers, making it difficult to track historical actions or contributions made by the deleted user. This limitation impacts audit trails, accountability, and the ability to understand the context of past activities.

Use Case

In many organisations, it is essential to maintain a clear record of who performed specific actions within Confluence, even after users leave the company or are deleted from the system. For example, when reviewing audit logs, page histories, or comments, administrators and auditors need to identify the actual person responsible for changes or contributions. The current “former-user” label obscures this information, making it challenging to investigate incidents, attribute work, or comply with regulatory requirements for record-keeping.

Suggested Implementation

• When a user is deleted, retain their display name in the system, but mark them as deleted (e.g., “John Doe (Deleted)”).

• Update all references (mentions, page histories, comments, audit logs) to show the retained name with the deleted status, instead of replacing it with “former-user.”

• Ensure that personal information beyond the display name (such as email, profile details) continues to be removed or anonymized to comply with privacy requirements.

• Provide an admin setting to control whether deleted user names are retained and displayed, allowing organizations to align with their privacy policies.