"delete" doesn't mean delete anymore, like you say, there are always audit logs, and there is "soft" deleting.

Expect any claims that things are being deleted to be a bold faced lie.

We deleted it from someplace. It's not our fault we have more places!

They wouldn't _have to_, audit checks if you stick to law, your own policies and such, but I think they will.

So how do they prove they actually checked someone's age?

How does shop clerk proves they checked someone's age before selling them alcohol?

They don’t need to prove that. The government or whatever would have to prove that they aren’t checking ages, by going to the site and seeing a lack of age verification.