[sebazzz]

Yes, but you need to explicitly target the EU. What that exactly means will be determined will eventually be determined in court, but some examples:

- If you offer your products in Euros, which is the currency in most of the EU - If you offer payment methods which only exist in the EU or one of its members - Otherwise suggest you target EU citizens

Hacker News exists as a generic website on the internet, but it does not to target any country or region specifically. Therefore HN should be exempt from the legislation.

[madez]

That is incorrect. You don't need to specifically target the EU. If you handle data from European citizens, the GDPR applies to you.

[madez]

I'm baffled. Why the downvotes? See for applicability: https://gdpr-info.eu/art-3-gdpr/

Also, in the case of HN, YC offers a service. Just like a forum is a service, this discussion and news platform is a service. It's irrelevant if it's paid for or free.

[mdekkers]

I'm baffled. Why the downvotes?

Because HN is now like Reddit, but for techno-snobs. If you don't follow the tightly defined groupthink, you'll get downvoted.

Many years of discussion groups have proven that downvoting has a chilling effect on discussion groups. Allow upvotes, and "spam" flags.