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'Not subject to American law' might not be possible if you want to use today's Internet in a global manner. US citizens for example get taxed worldwide and ban

by chmars 13y ago

'Not subject to American law' might not be possible if you want to use today's Internet in a global manner. US citizens for example get taxed worldwide and banks worldwide have to comply with American law if they want to remain part of the global banking system (and don't want to go out of business). That's possible because the heart of the global banking system is located in the US or at least under American control. Today's Internet is very similar and American companies are the dominating forces on the Internet anyway. And with regard to surveillance and interception, the US even has many supporting allies worldwide, just think of Echolon …

brudgers 13y ago
I am an American. But I don't think that the world of business will always revolve around that fact. US domination of the internet is subject to disruption, and laws which require the implementation of state sponsored spyware may place US based companies at a disadvantage in the global marketplace. To put it another way, given a choice Gmail-private will come to be preferred to Gmail-PRISM should the user facing feature sets be comparable. And it is likely to be easier to implement Gmail-private if the company providing it is located outside the US - i.e. is not Google. The same applies to search, maps, and eventually mobile communication.
- chmars 13y ago
  I like your – very American! – optimism. An unpleasant fact is that the Internet outside the US is under heavy surveillance too, think of China and the Arabic world but also Europe. From a user perspective, you cannot opt against surveillance, you can mainly choose who can directly intercept your communications. And in this regard and although I don't like to be under any surveillance, the US is usually the lesser evil.
  - brudgers 13y ago
    I have no optimism over the matter. I just believe in change. That your comparison of the US is to China, suggests how ripe the world of online services is for disruption - less oppressive than China is damnation by faint praise.
  - Zigurd 13y ago
    "the Internet outside the US is under heavy surveillance too, think of China and the Arabic world" This is where a tragic lack of foresight comes in. In 40 years China will be the world's dominant nation. Do we want to be in that transition setting a good example or a bad example? Do we want to be setting high standards for restraint, privacy, and individual freedom, or do we want to be seen grabbing every privilege and advantage right to the bitter end?
    - cema 13y ago
      <q>Do we want to be in that transition setting a good example or a bad example?</q> The way you posit the question... Are you sure they care about any such example?

by chmars 13y ago

brudgers 13y ago

I am an American. But I don't think that the world of business will always revolve around that fact. US domination of the internet is subject to disruption, and laws which require the implementation of state sponsored spyware may place US based companies at a disadvantage in the global marketplace. To put it another way, given a choice Gmail-private will come to be preferred to Gmail-PRISM should the user facing feature sets be comparable. And it is likely to be easier to implement Gmail-private if the company providing it is located outside the US - i.e. is not Google. The same applies to search, maps, and eventually mobile communication.

chmars 13y ago
I like your – very American! – optimism. An unpleasant fact is that the Internet outside the US is under heavy surveillance too, think of China and the Arabic world but also Europe. From a user perspective, you cannot opt against surveillance, you can mainly choose who can directly intercept your communications. And in this regard and although I don't like to be under any surveillance, the US is usually the lesser evil.
- brudgers 13y ago
  I have no optimism over the matter. I just believe in change. That your comparison of the US is to China, suggests how ripe the world of online services is for disruption - less oppressive than China is damnation by faint praise.
- Zigurd 13y ago
  "the Internet outside the US is under heavy surveillance too, think of China and the Arabic world" This is where a tragic lack of foresight comes in. In 40 years China will be the world's dominant nation. Do we want to be in that transition setting a good example or a bad example? Do we want to be setting high standards for restraint, privacy, and individual freedom, or do we want to be seen grabbing every privilege and advantage right to the bitter end?
  - cema 13y ago
    <q>Do we want to be in that transition setting a good example or a bad example?</q> The way you posit the question... Are you sure they care about any such example?