[TrackerFF]

My take is that it is spreading not due to culture, but due to how all new point of sale systems / card terminals come with a "tip" feature implemented.

I'm from Europe, and have traveled here extensively. Tipping is pretty rare, but for the past maybe 5 years, almost all new payment terminals have the tipping option.

[HamsterDan]

If the EU can force every person on earth to dismiss a cookie popup on every website they visit, surely they can pass some regulation to rein in the expansion of tipping.

For example, just make it a requirement that the default tip is 0% in point of sale systems.

[Lord-Jobo]

This is absolutely true, but that is exactly how culture spreads now. Through products/software/media.

American business software, American movies, American YouTube channels. They will inject American problems and solutions into your country, like it or not.

Microsoft may treat your privacy slightly better because of the GDPR, but those invasive systems are still there, toggled off. Waiting for Microsofts lobbying to chip away at the privacy laws until they can turn them on.

[rdm_blackhole]

Microsoft doesn't need to chip at the privacy laws of the EU, the EU is doing that itself by introducing massive state surveillance laws every 6 months.