[devnulloverflow]

> Didn't stop the court case of US government wanting data from Microsoft Ireland and trying to force Microsoft US, (empahsis added)

The trying to bit is important. The US tried to compel Microsoft to hand over data, and Microsoft went to the US courts and (we think) prevented it. MS can now go to European governments and say that both willing and able obey the European law in this regard.

Now this might not be true. Perhaps the US Govt. has used its leverage to force MS to MS slyly leak the data anyway. And perhaps European governments are quietly doing the same. But if the rule of law is uncertain restraint on western governments, it is no restraint at all on the Chinese government. A company straightforwardly will be compelled to hand info over to the Chinese government, and Chinese courts will not even consider trying to stop it.