New german law in progress, and a TC editor is confused:
One obvious question here is how any fines could be applied across international borders if a social media firm has no bricks-and-mortar presence in Germany, though. The law does also require social media firms operating in Germany to appoint a contact person in the country. But again, those companies that are outside Germany may be rather hard to police — unless the government intends to start trying to block access to non-compliance services which would only invite further controversy.
Aww. You know how you police these sites? You cut off access to them, Turkey style. They will come to their senses quick, especially when it involves a big money market like Germany. I bet a 3 day ban on Facebook will make them obedient little girls.
That’s also what needs to be done when they dont pay taxes in the countries they suck money from.
Maybe, maybe not. You cannot cut access without a judicial order and if indeed you cut access by force you will piss off the users, which are also voters and which may have voted for the right of free information and free speech. The users will become collateral damage in a battle that’s not theirs.
you have to obey local laws, i think. especially if you are conducting financial “services” in that country.
We really really need some sort of non-advertising dependent social media platforms that would protect American values in these parts of the world. I always said (well not here) that our biggest enemy isn’t Russia or China or the Islamic world, but Europe.