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We could have these regulations in the US, too, if we voted for them.

JumpCrisscross 3y ago
Or just called our electeds about it. I’ve worked on privacy issues. Past tense, because after a massive effort like two people call and the bill is dropped. (Except in Oregon. Oregonians apparently call and write about privacy.)
segasaturn 3y ago
Both parties in the US are in the tank with big tech (see: NY Dems killing right to repair)
Levitz 3y ago
My experience is that stuff like this gets framed as "pro consumer" in Europe and "anti corporation" in the US. The difference runs deep.
BobaFloutist 3y ago
Ok, how about this: "It's a bummer that the rest of the voting population doesn't agree with my priorities enough to enact similar privacy regulation to Europe."
carlosjobim 3y ago
European citizens didn't vote for those regulations.
- drooopy 3y ago
  European Citizens voted for the people who voted for those regulations.
  - tgv 3y ago
    And we have input via our governments, and the national parliaments have a say in the procedures: a group of 1/3 of all national parliaments can send proposals back.
  - carlosjobim 3y ago
    Yes, and so do American citizens. Whether you agree or disagree with the regulations, they were never voted on by the people.
- makeitdouble 3y ago
  To a larger point, european citizens are largely favorable to those regulations, which makes passing these rules possible, and not a political suicide. HN might not be representative, but the number of comments we see defending companies's right to make as much money as they can and against regulation that would add costs to businesses is IMHO pretty high. If that's the general US sentiment, politicians the have little upside in putting burdens on tech companies in the first place.
  - carlosjobim 3y ago
    European citizens are largely ignorant of EU regulations, EU politics and EU spending. Most European citizens do not know the name of the EU president. But Europeans will categorically support and agree with EU policy and laws. As for cookie laws, can we honestly say that they have done anything to protect people from corporate spying and abuse of private information? Real regulation would be to outlaw that kind of spying, not putting up annoying banners so that some web developer can feel good about themselves.
    - yau8edq12i 3y ago
      > European citizens are largely ignorant of EU regulations, EU politics and EU spending. Most European citizens do not know the name of the EU president. Very bold claim. Do you have any sources to back it up? EU politics are in the news all the time here.
      - carlosjobim 3y ago
        Go ask a European. Who are the three EU presidents? Who were the EU presidents before them? Then ask them who is the current US president? And which presidents were before him? Which are the two top candidates in the 2024 election?
        troupo 3y ago
        Because the person doesn't matter. Policies matter. And Europeans largely prefer privacy-protecting regulations
int_19h 3y ago
We don't vote for regulations, we vote for politicians. Who are a package deal, so in practice you're voting on several dozen different issues at once, and you inevitably have to prioritize. I don't think you'll find significant opposition to many of these laws in US, it's just that it's never going to be that one thing that drives people to vote for or against some candidate or party.

Or just called our electeds about it. I’ve worked on privacy issues. Past tense, because after a massive effort like two people call and the bill is dropped. (Except in Oregon. Oregonians apparently call and write about privacy.)

segasaturn 3y ago

Both parties in the US are in the tank with big tech (see: NY Dems killing right to repair)

Levitz 3y ago

My experience is that stuff like this gets framed as "pro consumer" in Europe and "anti corporation" in the US. The difference runs deep.

BobaFloutist 3y ago

Ok, how about this: "It's a bummer that the rest of the voting population doesn't agree with my priorities enough to enact similar privacy regulation to Europe."

carlosjobim 3y ago

European citizens didn't vote for those regulations.

drooopy 3y ago
European Citizens voted for the people who voted for those regulations.
- tgv 3y ago
  And we have input via our governments, and the national parliaments have a say in the procedures: a group of 1/3 of all national parliaments can send proposals back.
- carlosjobim 3y ago
  Yes, and so do American citizens. Whether you agree or disagree with the regulations, they were never voted on by the people.
makeitdouble 3y ago
To a larger point, european citizens are largely favorable to those regulations, which makes passing these rules possible, and not a political suicide. HN might not be representative, but the number of comments we see defending companies's right to make as much money as they can and against regulation that would add costs to businesses is IMHO pretty high. If that's the general US sentiment, politicians the have little upside in putting burdens on tech companies in the first place.
- carlosjobim 3y ago
  European citizens are largely ignorant of EU regulations, EU politics and EU spending. Most European citizens do not know the name of the EU president. But Europeans will categorically support and agree with EU policy and laws. As for cookie laws, can we honestly say that they have done anything to protect people from corporate spying and abuse of private information? Real regulation would be to outlaw that kind of spying, not putting up annoying banners so that some web developer can feel good about themselves.
  - yau8edq12i 3y ago
    > European citizens are largely ignorant of EU regulations, EU politics and EU spending. Most European citizens do not know the name of the EU president. Very bold claim. Do you have any sources to back it up? EU politics are in the news all the time here.
    - carlosjobim 3y ago
      Go ask a European. Who are the three EU presidents? Who were the EU presidents before them? Then ask them who is the current US president? And which presidents were before him? Which are the two top candidates in the 2024 election?
      - troupo 3y ago
        Because the person doesn't matter. Policies matter. And Europeans largely prefer privacy-protecting regulations

int_19h 3y ago

We don't vote for regulations, we vote for politicians. Who are a package deal, so in practice you're voting on several dozen different issues at once, and you inevitably have to prioritize. I don't think you'll find significant opposition to many of these laws in US, it's just that it's never going to be that one thing that drives people to vote for or against some candidate or party.