This article by @parisba is why #CommunityHosting and #SelfHosting need to be normalised. They are the only way we can stop scenarios like this happening:
You might think this couldn't happen to you, but it could happen to anyone. It's especially scary as most big tech companies are in repressive countries.
It's much easier and cheaper than you think to make your own online services. I've done a site for non-technical people at:
20 Years of Digital Life, Gone in an Instant, thanks to Apple
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…Dr Paris Buttfield-Addison (hey.paris)
