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RE: Censorship: Why All Blockchain Projects Should Join Steem (especially Status)
While I do see the value against censorship in Steem & Social Media on blockchain technology - I'm worried about the adaptability in regards to new laws & regulations.
For example:
What is your stance on GDPR compliance?
As far as I understood it, even blockchain projects have to make sure that users are in control of their data, who must be able to request the deletion of their data.
This article is quite interesting: https://cointelegraph.com/news/gdpr-and-blockchain-is-the-new-eu-data-protection-regulation-a-threat-or-an-incentive
What are your thoughts on that Team Steemit?
The lawyers and Data Protection Officers can wield the GDPR against any blockchain if they decide to do it. This is why I launched a "Call to arms" and pleaded for blockchain project teams to come together and agree on a strategy as soon as possible.
There are ways to deal with this challenge but if left to fester, problems will arise. The "tragedy of commons" I fear can gain hold here is that no one wants to stump up the necessary resources to build this defense group against self-serving interpretations of GDPR by vested interests.
I know you know this already, but for those who don't know, Steemit will delete people's accounts they said in their new TOS for violating their TOS, which makes me laugh at how they talk about not having censorship(most people are on Steemit and not busy.org). It is in their new TOS that they will work with the EU and within their laws framework, and also they would turn people in if the government asks for it.
If Steemit stops showing people's posts on Steemit.com your posts basically are censored, the super majority of people use Steemit.com as their main site. That isn't to say some people are abusive and or threats of harm shouldn't be dealt with, but many countries don't have free speech so turning them in to their respective governments will get people in trouble just for talking online(which is insanity to get in trouble for that).
I stopped using Steemit due to this and am on busy.org now.
I made a comment over on their blog from a bit ago and never got any serious response from anyone, I detailed some of the problems with this and how bad it can get depending on which laws Steemit decides to follow(like turning in people in China would get them jailed for life for them criticizing the government).
https://staging.busy.org/@steemitblog/updated-steemit-com-terms-of-service-and-privacy-policy#@truthforce/re-steemitblog-updated-steemit-com-terms-of-service-and-privacy-policy-20180615t214135326z
Steemit Inc can't delete accounts. They prob. meant removing their delegation.
Accounts are often created through Steemit (@steem) with an initial 15 SP delegation. And some users are exploiting this.
That's what the TOS is for. Making sure that people who are exploiting the system, are getting punished - i.e. removal of delegation.
Interesting debate because one of the basic premises of steem is that what you've published cannot be removed and you are held accountable for your choices to post. Past posts, even if deleted or updated remain in the BC. And there is a valid argument in that.
I think the big difference here is that steem is not part of a country. It is global and decentralized so in essence it is not under any jurisdiction at the moment. Governments use threat of force (jail) and financial sanctions for compliance and the public via advertisers use financial sanctions to force compliance with the current whim of the mob. This is what we've been seeing on Youtube. But with steem there is no "one" to attack. It's a totally different paradigm.
They can go after the interfaces such as busy and steemit via their corporate registrations and server location but not the actual BC.
Further to that, the GDPR is in response to large megacorps using peoples' data to make money whereas steem is nothing like that (is that statement correct btw?). So right from the get go it's a totally different situation.
So even if they find a target to go after there is the paradigm difference issue which is that the data has been the users' all along versus FB where for copyright efficiency they make you give them ownership of your data. There's no greedy mega corp that controls steem.
When doing seminars and talking about steem I always emphasise many times over the permanent nature of steem (plus rules 1-3 of steem - don't lose your password).
But there is Steemit, Inc. The Steem protocol and blockchain are mostly in their control. It is entirely possible for governments to take action against Steemit, Inc.
Of course, another organization or a set of (more) decentralized actors could revive/ fork the protocol and blockchain if Steemit, Inc became a pawn.
I agree, though, no one would bother Steemit with GDPR right now. However, if Steemit gets way more prominent and there are abuses, Steemit, Inc is possibly vulnerable.
Steemit.com is in compliance with GDPR.
The Steem blockchain (or most blockchains in general), probably not.
in that you can remove old posts whenever, as requested by a user?
For those who don't know, GDPR is the General Data Protection Regulation which is a EU law thing. By the way, EU Bans Memes. EU imprisoned Tommy Robinson over free speech. Tommy talked about children sex trafficking, rape, murder. Many murderers are not sent to jail. Tommy was sent to jail. Many people say things that the EU dislikes and are then sent to jail, each day now. #FreeTommy
Allowing content to be deleted off blockchains is dangerous.