[josephcsible]

> No one, including AWS can shorten the retention period

I don't think this is true. Isn't it more like you can't, and AWS can but promises that they won't?

[HyperSane]

Yes, AWS must still be able to delete the data if you stop paying but there must be a LOT of safeguards in place so Object Lock still makes it impossible for anyone outside of AWS to delete the data.