zlacker

Very informative reply, thanks! How do we regulate data-collecting institutions internationally? Look at the EU's Data Protection Directive[0]. As extensive as it is, it's struggling in the wake of the failure of the Safe Harbour Decision[1].

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_Protection_Directive

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Safe_Harbor_Priv...

>>chongl+(OP)
I'm not informed enough in law, much less international law w/r/t intangible assets [and, maybe more importantly, the political infrastructure surrounding them] to make an informed response to that but I'll try just based on my (limited) historical knowledge. (This is a pundit response, not an informed one.) Even if we constrained you request to simply a domestic domain, it'd be challenging because of the corporate interests who'd actively fight against it. Google et al would stomp on any bill that even remotely infringes upon their ability to aggregate data, as targeted ads are (or were as of circa 2011, when I last bothered to look a cash-flow report of their) ~95% of their revenue.

Magically, should a bill/resolution be introduced to the floor and not be stomped on immediately, enforcing it internationally would be about as difficult as say, enforcing international oil embargoes or a ruling by the ICC (i.e., nearly impossible - you don't see any proceedings against Cheney or Rumsfeld for war-crimes within the Hague, now do you?). Domestically, however, the US has (or had, historically from, say, 1930 until the mid 90s) the economic/political influence to effectively enforce their agendas fairly effectively. The new US gov't entity formed would have to have the intent to limit data collection then exhibit the willingness to penalize those institutions for violating those data collection policies (e.g. similar to an FDA fine issued for a multi-national drug company who has a presence within the US).

Again, too many financial interests opposed to see this happening, but the refusal to adhere to the legislation would mean (in theory) loss of US business, which would be catastrophic for most industries. HackerNews user:grellas (or was, I haven't seen him post in a couple years now) is an attorney specializing in tech affairs who'd be able to make a better response, but from a strictly political POV, even domestic legislation limiting data collection would never occur.