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> vendors who collect this sensitive data need to be held to a higher standard. They already do that, in Europe. I assume that it works, as I don’t hear about
by ChrisMarshallNY 2mo ago
> vendors who collect this sensitive data need to be held to a higher standard.
They already do that, in Europe. I assume that it works, as I don’t hear about this level of stuff, over there (though it could be because I am not plugged into European news).
One thing about the US, is that companies that have the means, can afford regulatory capture, or even strait-up bribery. This is often magnified, at the local level. I am constantly hearing anecdotal stories about the absurd levels of naked corruption, in my town. Much of this, comes from my friends, who own businesses.
The more plugged-in we are, the more access these small, corrupt municipalities have; so a bribed bureaucrat in a small town, could have access to a national database. We’re hearing a lot about small-town cops, accessing Flock camera data.
- thesmtsolver2 2mo agoAhem Some Interrail travellers told to cancel passports as hacked data posted online https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/apr/23/some-interrail-travellers-told-to-cancel-passports-as-hacked-data-posted-online https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/apr/23/some-inte...
- ChrisMarshallNY 2mo agoTrue, and there’s the notorious story of the Finnish psych data leak[0]. I just don’t hear about it anywhere near as much. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vastaamo_data_breach https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vastaamo_data_breach
- michaelt 2mo ago> They already do that, in Europe. I assume that it works, as I don’t hear about this level of stuff, over there Often it's straight up the same companies - a Brit's PII is held by Experian, Equifax and Transunion just like an American's is. And while the rules are strict and complicated enough to be very inconvenient for anyone who tries to follow them to the letter, the fines for even the worst fuck-ups are trivial. We're talking a $5 billion company handing 15 million people's credit reports to hackers, and getting fined $15 million.
- megagpt5 2mo agoGermany has Schufa and it keeps getting sued for the whole concept of it being illegal I believe.
- AndyMcConachie 2mo ago> They already do that, in Europe. I assume that it works, as I don’t hear about this level of stuff, over there As an EU citizen and resident I strongly recommend you not take EU privacy controls seriously. The GDPR functions well as a means of tax collection, but it really doesn't work all that well as something that actually protects people's privacy.
- miohtama 2mo agoGDPR does not prevent leaks, only may punish someone afterwards. A lot of the upcoming EU regulations are to collect more data on you because of the age checks. German and Spanish prime ministers have publicly called for verifying all Internet users and end anonymity,
- wwweston 2mo agoWorth noting this dynamic when people overgeneralize “local government good, federal government bad”, a tendency that has been present and growing for at least 50 years. The theory that local government is more accountable and responsive seems to be pretty deeply broken, what actually seems to happen is that localities lack a critical mass of attention and focus for real responsiveness and accountability. Or the American character in general does.