6 ms·

What is the point of the GDPR if it is not enforced?

by a_imho 7y ago

Iv 7y ago
Google was fined $57M. It is enforced.
- a_imho 7y ago
  I really can't tell whether this is sarcastic or not.
  - Iv 7y ago
    Where do you see sarcasm? On the amount? These fines are typically small at first, and rise exponentially as the firms do not comply.
- Jommi 7y ago
  Where can I see that it was enforced.
  - Iv 7y ago
    https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/21/technology/google-europe-gdpr-fine.html https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/21/technology/google-europe-...
HenryBemis 7y ago
Wait until it starts raining penalties.. Adtech that gets busted will either comply (shrink evil profits), die (won't be able to handle the profit loss), or move to greener pastures (keep their practices away from us).
- Endy 7y ago
  Or they'll just keep making more money by expanding, until GDPR hits are viewed with the same level respect as the pirate community views DMCA takedowns.
- Mirioron 7y ago
  But those penalties will also screw over most of the sites people are using in the EU.
sieabahlpark 7y ago
Definitely some good feelings and European based companies taking the mantel. Unfortunately those same companies will probably be state propaganda with how the EU has been going lately with internet regulations
filoleg 7y ago
Imo the real point of it was for EU politicians to get re-elected on the basis of them taking a “tough stance” against the US tech giants and “caring about user privacy”.
- simion314 7y ago
  Why is for some of the US citizens medical data sacred but any other kind of data is free for stealing and selling (I mean stealing because you are most of the time not aware what data is collected and to whom is sold). Most of this data can include medical stuff like what medical products you buy, what medical queries you search etc.
  - filoleg 7y ago
    I agree with you. My comment was less about the intent of GDPR, which I consider noble, and more about limp-wristed enforcing and real-life effects of GDPR in its current form.
    - simion314 7y ago
      It could take a while for large effects but there are effects for me already, I stopped visiting this websites when I see the dark patterns, I don't even waste time bypassing the wall. I am curious if someone can argue for the point that only the medical data from you doctor should be protected and the rest can be sold behind your back.
      - kasey_junk 7y ago
        I don't believe this argument but I'll make it. The very concept that this is 'your' data is in error. It is demographic data collected by third parties 'about' you. You've entered into consensual relationships to provide all of this data with those third parties, for the express purpose of using it for advertising. There is no expectation that it then would not be used for that purpose, quite the opposite thats why it is collected. Conversely, your relationship with the data your doctor collects has had a long expectation of privacy. Reinforcing that expectation with explicit laws doesn't change the basic relationship.
Angostura 7y ago
There are many different ways for GDPR to be effective without fines. In the UK, for example ICO aims to offer warnings and guidance in most cases. They aim to get people compliant, levying fines in cases of wilful contempt or egregious slackness. It’s not primarily a money making exercise
- a_imho 7y ago
  I think we can safely agree as of now GDPR is having ~zero effect (bar the annoying overlays) and quickly becoming another cookie law.
  - TazeTSchnitzel 7y ago
    The overlays are the start of something bigger, and are a significant change as is. Websites now are forced to tell you who's tracking you and let you turn off that tracking en masse without being unable to use the site.
    - a_imho 7y ago
      Complaint is this is not happening at all. In fact, they would need to require an opt-in consent, not presenting obfuscated opt-outs which do not even work. It really does not help we have tables with few hundred companies listed.
      - Rotareti 7y ago
        > It really does not help we have tables with few hundred companies listed. It helps so far that I (as a user) see upfront how much an article costs (in tracking data). I can then decide if I want to pay for it or not.
  - Angostura 7y ago
    I think we can safely agree that GDPR is having substantial effects (I’ve worked on implementing it in 2 organisations) and that the banners we are seeing is a tiny element of what GDPR are about - an annoying edge case.
ionised 7y ago
Pursuing cases takes time. It's not like you just complain and the next day the business in violation starts behaving.

What is the point of the GDPR if it is not enforced?

by a_imho 7y ago

What is the point of the GDPR if it is not enforced?

Iv 7y ago

Google was fined $57M. It is enforced.

a_imho 7y ago
I really can't tell whether this is sarcastic or not.
- Iv 7y ago
  Where do you see sarcasm? On the amount? These fines are typically small at first, and rise exponentially as the firms do not comply.
Jommi 7y ago
Where can I see that it was enforced.
- Iv 7y ago
  https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/21/technology/google-europe-gdpr-fine.html https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/21/technology/google-europe-...

HenryBemis 7y ago

Wait until it starts raining penalties.. Adtech that gets busted will either comply (shrink evil profits), die (won't be able to handle the profit loss), or move to greener pastures (keep their practices away from us).

Endy 7y ago
Or they'll just keep making more money by expanding, until GDPR hits are viewed with the same level respect as the pirate community views DMCA takedowns.
Mirioron 7y ago
But those penalties will also screw over most of the sites people are using in the EU.

sieabahlpark 7y ago

Definitely some good feelings and European based companies taking the mantel. Unfortunately those same companies will probably be state propaganda with how the EU has been going lately with internet regulations

filoleg 7y ago

Imo the real point of it was for EU politicians to get re-elected on the basis of them taking a “tough stance” against the US tech giants and “caring about user privacy”.

simion314 7y ago
Why is for some of the US citizens medical data sacred but any other kind of data is free for stealing and selling (I mean stealing because you are most of the time not aware what data is collected and to whom is sold). Most of this data can include medical stuff like what medical products you buy, what medical queries you search etc.
- filoleg 7y ago
  I agree with you. My comment was less about the intent of GDPR, which I consider noble, and more about limp-wristed enforcing and real-life effects of GDPR in its current form.
  - simion314 7y ago
    It could take a while for large effects but there are effects for me already, I stopped visiting this websites when I see the dark patterns, I don't even waste time bypassing the wall. I am curious if someone can argue for the point that only the medical data from you doctor should be protected and the rest can be sold behind your back.
    - kasey_junk 7y ago
      I don't believe this argument but I'll make it. The very concept that this is 'your' data is in error. It is demographic data collected by third parties 'about' you. You've entered into consensual relationships to provide all of this data with those third parties, for the express purpose of using it for advertising. There is no expectation that it then would not be used for that purpose, quite the opposite thats why it is collected. Conversely, your relationship with the data your doctor collects has had a long expectation of privacy. Reinforcing that expectation with explicit laws doesn't change the basic relationship.

Angostura 7y ago

There are many different ways for GDPR to be effective without fines. In the UK, for example ICO aims to offer warnings and guidance in most cases. They aim to get people compliant, levying fines in cases of wilful contempt or egregious slackness. It’s not primarily a money making exercise

a_imho 7y ago
I think we can safely agree as of now GDPR is having ~zero effect (bar the annoying overlays) and quickly becoming another cookie law.
- TazeTSchnitzel 7y ago
  The overlays are the start of something bigger, and are a significant change as is. Websites now are forced to tell you who's tracking you and let you turn off that tracking en masse without being unable to use the site.
  - a_imho 7y ago
    Complaint is this is not happening at all. In fact, they would need to require an opt-in consent, not presenting obfuscated opt-outs which do not even work. It really does not help we have tables with few hundred companies listed.
    - Rotareti 7y ago
      > It really does not help we have tables with few hundred companies listed. It helps so far that I (as a user) see upfront how much an article costs (in tracking data). I can then decide if I want to pay for it or not.
- Angostura 7y ago
  I think we can safely agree that GDPR is having substantial effects (I’ve worked on implementing it in 2 organisations) and that the banners we are seeing is a tiny element of what GDPR are about - an annoying edge case.

ionised 7y ago

Pursuing cases takes time. It's not like you just complain and the next day the business in violation starts behaving.