[ekanes]

While it's probably not your point, I find it greatly heartening that these companies are sending such a strong message by leaving a big and valuable market. It doesn't really matter what their reason is... it could be:

a) They value privacy and don't want to comply.

b) They can't access the messages, and thus can't comply.

Either reason is fine. Am I missing something?

[pbmonster]

c) They don't want to deal with the clusterfuck of dealing with communication between parties in the UK and parties in the EU. Because then, UK law would require them to remove the privacy tech in place, while EU law would require them to protect that privacy. And they'll have parties changing jurisdiction frequently, possibly mid-call.

[MerelyMortal]

d) It's more worthwhile to give up a small valuable market to appear like they're doing the right thing for a larger valuable market in order to keep those users.