The tech capitals of the world have become famous over time as the location where all things tech are born – whether that be Silicon Valley or the many other places that have popped up since. With changing data rights, the online space is changing and its being felt all over – in gaming the different legislation may mean different online casino options are more accessible than others, for other platforms like social media it may be where these platforms are allowed or not allowed to operate, and in the most recent change, where data is or isn’t allowed to be processed and it’s showing more than anything, just how important location is for tech.
Facebook were the latest to make an announcement with their new ‘Meta’ universe, in line with the changing data protection laws across Europe, there are questions being raised around whether or not these services can continue to operate in the same way under these data protection rules, Facebook have already suggested that it may take its premier social media platform and Instagram away from Europe if it can’t hold user data on US data servers. It isn’t the only big tech company that have suggested change may be seen in the near future – even those that may seem untouchable at first.
Google had been another target with suggestions that Google Analytics may become unavailable within Europe because of the way data is handled and held on US based servers, but this may be an example of a company or service that’s too big to fail, changes will certainly be made to avoid any disruption to service but has shown the scope of these potential changes and what may be necessary to keep things going despite the adjustments being seen in the industry.
More than ever, location is becoming a vital part of the way tech companies do business and the way the data that is such a big part of the day to day is handled, large scale adjustments take a lot of time to put into place and simply making fixes over night isn’t an option for the biggest, and if there is the potential for widespread disruption then it may mean some more substantial changes are needed in order to continue delivering the much needed services in the same way.
The next few months will be vital in this regard too, it’s unlikely that there will be much disruption but with the possibility being there it will be in the back of the mind for some, with eyes peeled to keep up with the potential for change.
