GDPR for lazy people: Block all European users with Cloudflare Workers • Hacker News Board

Re: GDPR for lazy people: Block all European users with Cloudflare Workers

#111

Post by ams6110 » Fri, May 25, 2018, 7:29 PM UTC

newman8r wrote: post #70

ThJ wrote: post #53

I keep seeing these posts on how to block European users to avoid the GDPR. As a citizen of Europe, seeing these posts consistently making it to the front page is disappointing. It would seem that Silicon Valley perceives the GDPR as more of a hindrance than an opportunity to offer users better privacy. Nothing has been learned.

I can see why you'd be disappointed - if popular websites started blocking US customers I'd be pretty bummed out as well (even if it was easy to circumvent). As a dev though, I also understand the frustration. Creating startups is already time-intensive and stressful. A lot of us are on shoestring budgets. Most startups will fail. To a solo developer in the US, the idea of spending time understanding and complying wi…

As a developer I can understand this point of view, but as a consumer I say it's time to grow up. Internet startups have taken a "move fast and break things" approach that is analogous to early industrial revolution approaches to worker safety, product efficacy and safety, and environmental protection.

You're working in the real world, with real consequences if you end up exposing people's personal data. The party is ending. Either deal with it, or find something else to do.

Re: GDPR for lazy people: Block all European users with Cloudflare Workers

#112

Post by oldgun » Fri, May 25, 2018, 7:30 PM UTC

Someone should really make a tool: use Cloudflare to block your own trackers and user data collector and etc with one click :)

Re: GDPR for lazy people: Block all European users with Cloudflare Workers

#113

Post by shiado » Fri, May 25, 2018, 7:30 PM UTC

I simply don't understand how or why a law that has scope in the EU is causing trouble for companies which conduct no business in the EU beyond responding to HTTP requests on a global decentralized telecommunications network. Why would an American internet business which conducts no operations in Europe and has no servers in Europe be subject to regulation that affects the EU? What is going to happen? Is the EU going to target American banks of American businesses and try to extract fines? Is the EU going to extradite owners of these businesses? Are EU courts going to issue default judgements on businesses and individuals?

Re: GDPR for lazy people: Block all European users with Cloudflare Workers

#114

Post by pleasecalllater » Fri, May 25, 2018, 7:32 PM UTC

Or rather: block all EU users because you want to sell the users' data without informing them about it?

Re: GDPR for lazy people: Block all European users with Cloudflare Workers

#115

Post by austinheap » Fri, May 25, 2018, 7:32 PM UTC

notananthem wrote: post #104

matte_black wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's no laughing matter for some companies. EU citizens have turned into pests overnight. There are businesses who don't make much money from the EU to justify compliance with the regulations.

Hey, rest of the world, sorry some of our idiots are calling people pests for defending privacy.

Hey, rest of world, sorry some of our commenters can’t express disagreement without name calling.

Re: GDPR for lazy people: Block all European users with Cloudflare Workers

#116

Post by IceyEC » Fri, May 25, 2018, 7:34 PM UTC

drstewart wrote: post #72

ThJ wrote: post #53

I keep seeing these posts on how to block European users to avoid the GDPR. As a citizen of Europe, seeing these posts consistently making it to the front page is disappointing. It would seem that Silicon Valley perceives the GDPR as more of a hindrance than an opportunity to offer users better privacy. Nothing has been learned.

I'm curious as to how many European companies comply with SOX, HIPAA, or COPPA just for the opportunity of making security/privacy compliance better?

How many European companies deal with US health data (HIPAA)?

Re: GDPR for lazy people: Block all European users with Cloudflare Workers

#117

Post by taf2 » Fri, May 25, 2018, 7:34 PM UTC

shiado wrote: post #113

I simply don't understand how or why a law that has scope in the EU is causing trouble for companies which conduct no business in the EU beyond responding to HTTP requests on a global decentralized telecommunications network. Why would an American internet business which conducts no operations in Europe and has no servers in Europe be subject to regulation that affects the EU? What is going to happen? Is the EU going…

yup, maybe, probably not... we'll find out

Re: GDPR for lazy people: Block all European users with Cloudflare Workers

#118

Post by sdenton4 » Fri, May 25, 2018, 7:34 PM UTC

ThJ wrote: post #53

I keep seeing these posts on how to block European users to avoid the GDPR. As a citizen of Europe, seeing these posts consistently making it to the front page is disappointing. It would seem that Silicon Valley perceives the GDPR as more of a hindrance than an opportunity to offer users better privacy. Nothing has been learned.

Are you familiar with the term 'unfunded mandate'?

Re: GDPR for lazy people: Block all European users with Cloudflare Workers

#119

Post by apple4ever » Fri, May 25, 2018, 7:36 PM UTC

Exuma wrote: post #78

Why wouldn't you use the built in `request.headers.get("CF-IpCountry")`? This is a very weak and lame attempt at just getting people to use your service when it's already built in...

Or even better, just use the Firewall to block by country. That's what we do to stop bots from countries we don't sell in.

Re: GDPR for lazy people: Block all European users with Cloudflare Workers

#120

Post by Jeremy1026 » Fri, May 25, 2018, 7:37 PM UTC

Keep in mind, just blocking traffic out of the EU does not serve as GDPR compliance. EU citizens are covered by GDPR, not EU traffic. A EU citizen traveling to the US is still afforded all the protections of GDPR as they do back at home.