GDPR dramatically reduced venture investments in europe, compared to the US[1]. Protectionism is not something you can do indirectly. It requires certainty and clarity.
I'm not really talking about GDPR here; it's not US-specific and doesn't have the effect of walling off the EU market from the US.
I'm not a huge fan of GDPR FWIW; in particular I think the requirement to have representatives and data protection officers is way too burdensome for smaller companies. They probably thought they'd create a cottage industry of EU representative/DPO service companies, but that's so little of a business it just feels like an invitation to set one up as a front for money laundering. I like the thought of GDPR, but the law as written is actually pretty weird IMO.
I'm not a huge fan of GDPR FWIW; in particular I think the requirement to have representatives and data protection officers is way too burdensome for smaller companies. They probably thought they'd create a cottage industry of EU representative/DPO service companies, but that's so little of a business it just feels like an invitation to set one up as a front for money laundering. I like the thought of GDPR, but the law as written is actually pretty weird IMO.