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Shutting Down Forum (GDPR)

discourse.drone.io

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Re: Shutting Down Forum (GDPR)

#41
post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How does Discourse factor into this? From my read of this, it doesn't seem to be specific to the fact that he's using Discourse.

I thought he was using Discourse for his forum? Its not like I'm taking a shot at Discourse, I was just saying that it might be worthwhile to tack on an export function that is user facing to mitigate the onslaught of requests. [edit]: @jcastro, I totally didn't realize that was already there, my bad.

Not sure what version this was added to but Discourse has an export button that individual users can use from their profile page.

Re: Shutting Down Forum (GDPR)

#42
post #27
post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If I ran a forum for a number of years, and a person decided to close their account, that'd be fine. But if they then said that I need to remove _all of their posts_, that's really shitty. It would destroy the usefulness of a forum.

How does GDPR affect people in other countries with no interest in doing business in Europe? If I host a forum in the US and you ask me to remove your posts and I tell you where to stick it, what legal consequences might I face? Erm, asking for a friend.

As much as I dislike Donald Trump, I am willing to hold my nose here and suggest encouraging the Trump Administration to go full MAGA and direct Congress to pass laws explicitly stating that no foreign judgements or fines may be enforced on US citizens.

Re: Shutting Down Forum (GDPR)

#43

I'm a little confused. Who is sending compliance requests? If it's not the ico, there's rely no problem. If it is the ico, ask what needs to change. No lawyers required.

> No lawyers required. Phrases like this just sound weird to me. If there's a risk that someone could sue you over something, from a business perspective I have always been taught that you avoid it, period, until you get a lawyer. I wonder if this is a cultural difference between the US and EU? Might explain some of the different reactions people have had to the legislation.

>If there's a risk that someone could sue you over something, from a business perspective I have always been taught that you avoid it, period, until you get a lawyer.

Bad news: If you have a business, people can attempt to sue your business for whatever they want, and you might have to defend against it. There is nothing on the books that says lawsuits have to be reasonable before they can be filed, only that people who abuse the legal system get punished AFTER a court decides they're a moron.

Re: Shutting Down Forum (GDPR)

#44
post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're the reason we can't have nice things. I hope you are proud of yourself. GDPR is great but will be ruined by people like you.

We've had thousands of companies for years and years using every trick in the book to get people on their mailing lists and collect data about them, but now that users have the right to do something about it, that makes them the assholes?

I'm glad you are feeling such rightous indignation. I won't lie and tell you that I am not being entertained by watching the EU internet implode on itself.

Re: Shutting Down Forum (GDPR)

#46
I"m not really a fan of the GDPR. I don't think it really protects privacy. I think it just uses the power of the EU, a fairly big and strong organization, to intimidate the rest of the world to comply with laws that it really shouldn't have legal jurisdiction to enforce globally. I think this is a scary precedent to set that the biggest bully on the block can de facto enforce such standards because the rest of the world is terrified of the consequences of standing up to them.

Isn't this the sort of thing people accuse the US of? The rest of the world makes ugly jokes about "Be careful what you say about the US or they might come liberate you too." The EU is now in the protection racket. When the mob says you should give us a few bucks because it would be a shame if something happened to your business, people recognize that is not nice behavior. But the EU can do the same on the web and some people laud it is a good thing for individuals in the name of personal privacy.

If you want none of your personal info on the web, I have a suggestion: Don't participate in forums, social media, etc.

(Yes, I am guilty of having this opinion without having actually read it. I blogged previously about my opinion this would do bad things to forums. I am shocked to see negative fallout happening so very soon.)

Re: Shutting Down Forum (GDPR)

#47

I'm a little confused. Who is sending compliance requests? If it's not the ico, there's rely no problem. If it is the ico, ask what needs to change. No lawyers required.

> No lawyers required. Phrases like this just sound weird to me. If there's a risk that someone could sue you over something, from a business perspective I have always been taught that you avoid it, period, until you get a lawyer. I wonder if this is a cultural difference between the US and EU? Might explain some of the different reactions people have had to the legislation.

Despite all the bluster to the contrary, in the US we avoid accepting responsibility for our actions at all costs. To the point that business schools now effectively teach that the correct strategy is to put your fingers in your ears, and yell "la la la" until somebody actually smacks you.

Re: Shutting Down Forum (GDPR)

#48
post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

From one of his responses in the link "I do appreciate the links. The gdpr documentation is quite long and I lack the domain expertise to read and comprehend the document in full. Perhaps this is cultural, since the United States is a very litigious society, but I would not feel comfortable accepting liability for gdpr compliance without consulting an attorney. It is also unclear how I am expected to respond to DPA e…

I think you are right about one thing, the misreading of European law that comes from living in a litigious society. Just act in good faith and GDPR will not bite.

There are litigious people even here, though. Someone who has an axe to grind for whatever reason can keep annoying the DPA until they do go after you.

Re: Shutting Down Forum (GDPR)

#49

Does he have any proof that the person is a troll ? From what I read he just assumes it.

When you receive a request that is titled the "Nightmare letter" [1] it is hard to assume otherwise.

1: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/nightmare-letter-subject-acce...

Re: Shutting Down Forum (GDPR)

#50

I'm a little confused. Who is sending compliance requests? If it's not the ico, there's rely no problem. If it is the ico, ask what needs to change. No lawyers required.

> No lawyers required. Phrases like this just sound weird to me. If there's a risk that someone could sue you over something, from a business perspective I have always been taught that you avoid it, period, until you get a lawyer. I wonder if this is a cultural difference between the US and EU? Might explain some of the different reactions people have had to the legislation.

>If there's a risk that someone could sue you over something

That seems like a pretty broad policy... someone could all the time for any reason no matter how good a reason.

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