undefined | Better HN

0 pointsleereeves7y ago0 comments

You're right, there was never a business behind this. It's free software.

Why should the creator of free software spend their own money to support users in a region that imposes extra regulations?

0 comments

ABCLAW7y ago

>Why should the creator of free software spend their own money to support users in a region that imposes extra regulations?

If I create free software that concretely and demonstrably aids in worldwide human trafficking and has negligible utility elsewhere, would you still consider my refusal to comply with regulation reasonable because my software was free?

How free the software is not a determining factor, either morally or legally, in determining whether or not the GDPR is or should be applicable.

leereevesOP7y ago

Nice strawman. If sometime in the future you want to talk about Monal, let me know.

jacquesm7y ago

Because even free software has to comply with the law. Funny how that works, but not making a profit on something does not absolve you from legal liability.

leereevesOP7y ago

And the easiest way to comply with the law in this case is simply to block EU users, as was done.

You can hardly complain that someone who gave you something for free wasn't willing to spend their time or money to comply with additional demands.

Silhouette7y ago

Funny how that works, but not making a profit on something does not absolve you from legal liability.

But why would someone who is literally giving something away accept that liability, or even any perceived risk of liability, if they have an easier option?

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 comments

ABCLAW7y ago

>Why should the creator of free software spend their own money to support users in a region that imposes extra regulations?

How free the software is not a determining factor, either morally or legally, in determining whether or not the GDPR is or should be applicable.

leereevesOP7y ago

Nice strawman. If sometime in the future you want to talk about Monal, let me know.

jacquesm7y ago

Because even free software has to comply with the law. Funny how that works, but not making a profit on something does not absolve you from legal liability.

leereevesOP7y ago

And the easiest way to comply with the law in this case is simply to block EU users, as was done.

You can hardly complain that someone who gave you something for free wasn't willing to spend their time or money to comply with additional demands.

Silhouette7y ago

Funny how that works, but not making a profit on something does not absolve you from legal liability.

But why would someone who is literally giving something away accept that liability, or even any perceived risk of liability, if they have an easier option?

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse