Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit login

>>> Whether you think that regulations that appear to require local data storage and processing are a good idea or not — and I personally think they are bad policies that will stifle innovation — my sense is the momentum behind them is significant enough that they are, at this point, likely inevitable

Agree it's stealth protectionism and security overreach. But do data sovereignty laws really form the basis of an inevitable future federated internet? Trade agreements like CPPTPA and USAMCA seem to prohibit. Or restrict sensitive finance or health data. And most users of consumer internet apps like TikTok aren't too concerned. They just want fresh memes ;)

Just signed up to Cloudflare Unbounded private beta (feel free to fast track). And thanks for all your hard work. $NET has been a stand out performer!




The Internet was always supposed to be federated/decentralized. The idea of megacorps centralizing all of your data isn't the Internet. And the fact that we live in the real world and the Internets servers exist in countries subject to various laws, there was no way a global Internet was going to ever be without any sort of borders.

The idea that the Internet is universally global and where your data is doesn't matter is idealistic fiction, not reality.


There's plenty of space between the extremes of centralized data and being stored in the same country as the user.

Freedom to store and process in more logical, secure and efficient places is a good thing.


Your user will almost always benefit from the data being stored in the same country as them. Using an app across an ocean tends to suck. And the user gets to benefit from their country's consumer protection laws.

Which is to say, the only parties that benefit from being able to store your data in other countries is often global monopolies shifting your data to where they have the least legal oversight.


If you can legislate data location then it's better to just legislate access and privacy rights to that data instead of the location.

Forcing data to be stored within borders just makes it harder, more expensive, and more inefficient to serve more customers for no real security benefit. And a company with illegitimate operations isn't going to be following these guidelines anyway.


Not necessarily true. “Your user” is not one person, but potentially many. You may want to store the data in multiple locations to benefit them all.




Consider applying for YC's Spring batch! Applications are open till Feb 11.

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: