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Massachusetts is attempting to promulgate sales taxes on out of state Internet purchases using similar logic applied to cookies [0]. It seems that all it takes is nouns being put on these things, for that parasitic ambient authority to attempt to jam itself in.

Having said that, as a USian, it seems like it's at least possible for EU regulation to have its intended effects (/me glances at uUSB connectors on everything). So, especially because I bear no responsibility for its existence, I'm cautiously optimistic that the GPDR will do some good pushing back against the surveillance industry, rather than simply being yet another tool to strip individuals' freedoms away.

[0] Hey, maybe if it holds up in court, it will spur development and adoption of browser-based nym management!




It seems a little different if we're talking about selling and shipping goods to a territory.


Per US federal law, retailers are only responsible for collecting a given state's sales tax if they have a physical presence in that state. The legal theory specifically relies on considering the cookie on the user's computer as a physical presence in the state.




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