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0 pointsquanticle7y ago0 comments

>This type of law is only effective due to centralisation of Internet services.

This type of law encourages that very centralization. Look at the provisions of GDPR, for example. Do you think a two-person startup is going to have the resources to deal with all of its provisions? Or in this case: do you think that a new video-sharing startup is going to have the resources to deal with the more stringent copyright enforcement requirements?

The EU has, in effect, made a Faustian bargain with Google, Facebook and Twitter: if you accept our regulation, we'll ensure that you have no competitors.

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groestl7y ago

> Look at the provisions of GDPR, for example. Do you think a two-person startup is going to have the resources to deal with all of its provisions?

GDPR is a bad example, because yes, that's definitely possible. And it should be, if that startup handles personal data.

AnthonyMouse7y ago

But what kind of startup doesn't handle personal data? All companies have that in the form of customer and supplier account information needed for billing purposes -- especially if they're not in the advertising business.

groestl7y ago

Absolutely, and that's kind of my point. Even a single person operation can comply with the GDPR, as most of the policies to do so should alreay be state-of-the-art for companies who handle personal data (in a non-malicous way). I agree there is some annoying administrative overhead, but it's definitely manageable (speaking from experience here).

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majewsky7y ago

Most of the rules in GDPR apply only to personally-identifiable information that is not strictly required for business operations. The law recognizes that, when you want to ship some goods to a customer, you will have to process and store their address, and no opt-in is needed because the customer explicitly gives that information to you.

Explicit opt-ins are only required when you record personally-identifiable information surreptitiously, or share these information with other parties.

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CuriousSkeptic7y ago

It’s not without precedent though:

“copying restrictions were authorized by the Licensing of the Press Act 1662. These restrictions were enforced by the Stationers' Company, a guild of printers given the exclusive power to print—and the responsibility to censor—literary works”

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statute_of_Anne

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0 pointsquanticle7y ago0 comments

>This type of law is only effective due to centralisation of Internet services.

The EU has, in effect, made a Faustian bargain with Google, Facebook and Twitter: if you accept our regulation, we'll ensure that you have no competitors.

0 comments

groestl7y ago

> Look at the provisions of GDPR, for example. Do you think a two-person startup is going to have the resources to deal with all of its provisions?

GDPR is a bad example, because yes, that's definitely possible. And it should be, if that startup handles personal data.

AnthonyMouse7y ago

groestl7y ago

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majewsky7y ago

Explicit opt-ins are only required when you record personally-identifiable information surreptitiously, or share these information with other parties.

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CuriousSkeptic7y ago

It’s not without precedent though:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statute_of_Anne

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