That sounds like a policing problem?

Comments like this restore my faith in the internet

I hope you’re right. The opposition haven’t indicated they’re going to rescind anything yet. They’ve shuttled so far to the right in the last three years in a successful effort to woo the disillusioned “centrists” that it’s really hard to get a grip on where they stand ideologically. All that can be said is they will do anything and say anything if they think it will get them more votes, and they won’t commit to anything which might upset the centrists.

Very good point.

You’re missing the point/s

1. What they’re doing is illegal. It has to stop immediately and they have to be held accountable
2. What they’re doing is immoral and every barrier we can put up against it is a valid pursuit
3. Restricting Google to data held remotely is a good barrier. They shouldn’t be able to help themselves to users local data, and it’s something that most people can understand: the data that is physically within your system is yours alone. They would have to get permission from each user to transfer that data, which is right.
4. This legal route commits to personal permissions and is a step to maintaining user data within the country of origin. Far from being a “dead end”, it’s the foundation and beginnings of a sensible policy on data ownership. This far, no further.