The DMCA safe harbor provisions apply to service providers, not to their customers. They exist to remove the service provider's liability for unknowingly infrin

The DMCA safe harbor provisions apply to service providers, not to their customers. They exist to remove the service provider's liability for unknowingly infringing copyrights -- WordPress is allegedly infringing by distributing this material, not just the author that uploaded it to the blog. What matters here is (a) where the service provider is, not where you are, and (b) whether the service provider wants to be immune to an infringement lawsuit in the US. They may be sued domestically even if a judgement can't be enforced, and they may prefer to do the minimal actions necessary to get the safe harbor protection so their future potential business with the US isn't threatened. Copyright is enforced internationally, and there are many businesses outside the US that will happily comply with the notices. There's no downside, complying turns "you are possibly doing something illegal and could be sued" to "you cannot be sued even if what you're doing is illegal".