OK, maybe I’m wrong about the politics as regards large multinationals. (Although I’m not sure I’m wrong.)
But that argument says nothing about why a website like JSTOR (non-profit, US-based) complies. I’m skeptical that anyone would try to enforce against them, and also that any such enforcement would have actual legal consequences. EU tries to fine JSTOR, JSTOR says “we are in the US” and doesn’t pay, then...? Does anyone actually think the EU is going to force all European ISPs to block JSTOR? I suppose if JSTOR uses EU-based datacenters to serve some content to European users, those could be shut down. I do not think that would be a popular move with European academics.
OK, maybe I’m wrong about the politics as regards large multinationals. (Although I’m not sure I’m wrong.)
But that argument says nothing about why a website like JSTOR (non-profit, US-based) complies. I’m skeptical that anyone would try to enforce against them, and also that any such enforcement would have actual legal consequences. EU tries to fine JSTOR, JSTOR says “we are in the US” and doesn’t pay, then...? Does anyone actually think the EU is going to force all European ISPs to block JSTOR? I suppose if JSTOR uses EU-based datacenters to serve some content to European users, those could be shut down. I do not think that would be a popular move with European academics.