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by ifmpx 2096 days ago
Which will encourage courts to render these "agreements" invalid. I think there was a study that showed that it would take the average user 40 man-years to read and understand each software or serive legal agreements they "agree" to.

Software legal agreements are a farce, and it's only a matter of time before governments step in and regulate the shit out of it.
2 comments
Nextgrid 2096 days ago
Note that Google's consent form is already invalid and completely useless from the GDPR's point of view.

As per the GDPR, consent should be freely given (you are not penalized for declining) and it should be as easy to decline as it is to agree (something as simple as pre-ticked checkboxes is already in breach). The ICO's (UK privacy regulator) website provides more details: https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-data-protectio...

The current Google consent prompt fails the second test. There is an easy "I agree" button but no "I decline". The "See more" button leads you to some more filler text and turns the button to "Other options". Clicking that gives you more filler text and some links to Google/YouTube history and ad settings, but setting those doesn't actually dismiss the modal and you are still supposed to click "I agree". Furthermore the Google personalized ad opt-out says the setting can take hours to apply, which would also not comply with the GDPR as ad tracking should be opt-in to begin with.

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paulryanrogers 2095 days ago
What is at stake if the EU agrees this is a violation?
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rightbyte 2095 days ago
E.g.: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Corp._v._Commission
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amluto 2096 days ago
As I understand it, it’s crystal clear under EU law that these I Agree popups violate the GDPR.
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virgilp 2096 days ago
Yeah, I really don't get it. Google seems to be daring EU to apply a 5% fine.... why wouldn't EU do that?
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throwaway33339 2095 days ago
5% is pocket money. By the time the get sued, lose, appeal, lose the appeal, etc. they'll have made that money many times over. At this scale fines are just the cost of doing business.

The only way to act as an actual deterrent is to put executives behind bars or dismantle the company.

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mywittyname 2096 days ago
They wouldn't be able to enforce it.
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virgilp 2096 days ago
Like what, Google would stop operating in Ireland and Netherlands? That’s worse than the rine
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distances 2095 days ago
Of course EU can enforce fines? It's being done all the time, the same as in US.
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