[kayoone]

> but Google and FB should offer a way to opt out of being tracked around on the web

In Europe, this is even regulated in the EU data privacy directive, the problem is that FB et al just do not care because there are hardly any consequences.

[wayn3]

I don't think its possible to HAVE any real consequences. Clearly they are american companies. Europe can't do a whole lot about shutting them down.

They could block them, if it wasn't for laws. But even if it was not for laws, who would really want to not have access to google?

To be real about any of this, the Internet is killing the concept of "jurisdiction".

[kayoone]

technically they have to adhere to EU laws because all of them have EU subsidiaries (mostly in Ireland) through which they act in Europe. But the irish government is obviously happy about all the jobs and taxes they bring to a small country without a lot of industry or natural resources, so all the lawsuits kind of go nowhere.

See http://www.europe-v-facebook.org/EN/en.html

[wayn3]

obviously. but they are only in ireland because it fiscally makes sense. there is no real reason for facebook to maintain a presence in the EU any more than they have to have a Seoul office to offer facebook services in south korea.

[Markoff]

well for instance Paypal in Europe is in Luxembourg and I doubt it's for tax purposes

[wayn3]

In the case of paypal its not for tax purposes, but its still for money purposes.

Financial institutions tend to gravitate towards luxembourg. Favourable banking law and part of the EU etc.