I think the GDPR approach (transparency rules, huge fines) is probably good enough to address this

I’ve been talking GDPR for weeks and like, nobody knows how to comply. So many people have totally different thoughts.

I know, I’m not claiming it’s clear or easy to execute. I completely agree with its intention and the general model, though. Anything specific that comes up in terms of compliance? Always interested in discussing how to go about it technically.

So for me the biggest confusion is around personally identifiable information. Loosely this could mean so many things and affect every single tier of the architecture including cold storage of logs.

Agreed. E.g. there are lots of things you shouldn’t log, or at least not keep, which of course complicates things. Keeping aggregated stats instead might work.

It’s my strong belief that every single system is in violation of the requirements. The requirements are so vague I can poke holes in almost any system described to me and consider it not compliant. So if a law exists that nobody can effectively comply with, what use is it?

I see your point, and I wish it were clearer. But my expectation (and experience) is that judges don’t follow overly literate interpretations. Possibly a EU/US difference?

Uhhh so your argument is the law is vague and everyone is in violation but it’s okay because if you try to be somewhat compliant the EU won’t attack you. Yeah, lawfully that’s not something a business can roll the dice with.

Yet it’s what every business currently operating in the EU has been doing since May 25, and the world hasn’t ended yet

It’s utterly pointless to design a law that is ineffective in protecting users and also impossible to comply to and still be vulnerable to audits even after you spent millions to vaguely comply.