On a personal level, I think GDPR is probably a good idea. To some degree, the government should intervene when people’s privacy is being invaded.

This topic has become big news in the U.S. recently with the revelations about Facebook, Cambridge Analytica and all that nonsense. People who can remember things so far back that they’ve fallen off their Facebook feed will recall that our Director of National Intelligence blatantly lied to Congress about the snooping our own government is doing.

On us.

You know, government of the people, by the people, and … forget that … watching the people. And building profiles. To keep you safe.

You might guess that I’m all in favor of rules that stop this sort of snooping. And you’d be right. From that perspective, GDPR might be a good thing.

But as an American, I’m offended by the whole concept.

Didn’t we fight a war to say “That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States”?

On what possible grounds does Europe get to pass a law that imposes obligations on U.S. companies? What the heck kind of craziness is that? What’s next? Does North Korea get to pass a law saying we can’t have electricity at night?

Can we pass a law requiring women on French beaches to cover up? Would France give a damn if we did?

I hope not. I hope they’d laugh at us.

A few years ago, Colorado passed some law about state sales tax, requiring internet businesses to keep track of how much people from Colorado purchased. The accounting department asked me to put together some reports for this, but my question was — and still is — why in the heck do I care what Colorado says? Colorado is a wonderful place, but … we’re not a Colorado company. Why do we care about their laws?

I think American companies should ignore GDPR. Or, if they feel like spending a little extra effort, just for fun, they should pop up a little warning for all the visitors from Europe. Something like “This website is owned by an American company, and we don’t give a crap what Belgium says. Enter at your own risk.”

Of course your lawyers will tell you something else.