numb3r_5ev3n (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
numb3r_5ev3n) wrote2017-01-01 09:36 pm
numb3r_5ev3n) wrote2017-01-01 09:36 pm
Once again: these are the ramifications of the LJ servers moving to Russia.
Take a look at this post here: http://lynnenne.livejournal.com/285076.html
I'm still on about this specifically because of the posts and comments I have seen which amount to "This is just a lot of Chicken Little squawking, I don't live in Russia, and I don't think LJ is about to go under or disappear, so none of this affects my journal or me personally." Actually, it still might. To quote the above linked post from lynnenne:
The issue is not that LJ and all of the users' extant journals might suddenly vanish because LJ is in trouble, though that is a (possibly valid) concern which has been raised. No, most of the worry is due to the fact that many LJs of Cyrillic users have already been suspended or deleted due to the crackdown on pro-Ukraine, pro-LGBT political sentiments - and now that the LJs of users in other countries are under their jurisdiction, the pro-Putin government now gets to decide what material is objectionable and may be subject to deletion. That, and *your personal data* may not be protected the way it was when the servers resided in the US. This is just something to think about.
HOW TO BACK UP YOUR LJ:
https://www.dreamwidth.org/support/faqb
https://www.dreamwidth.org/support/faqb
I'm still on about this specifically because of the posts and comments I have seen which amount to "This is just a lot of Chicken Little squawking, I don't live in Russia, and I don't think LJ is about to go under or disappear, so none of this affects my journal or me personally." Actually, it still might. To quote the above linked post from lynnenne:
"On LJ migrating to Russian servers
I work for a tech company that deals with data residency issues all the time, so I'm sharing what I know about the legalities of LiveJournal moving its physical servers to Russia. (I don't know for certain that they have moved, but siderea has posted some evidence.)
What I know:
When a company offers a service to the public, the laws governing that service are determined by where the physical servers reside. For most of its life, LiveJournal servers lived in California, so LJ had to abide by California laws. Among other things, it meant that:
With the servers in Russia, none of that applies anymore. They can basically remove any posts that they don't like (political or otherwise) without giving you a reason. They can delete your entire journal without explanation or recourse. They can also translate your fiction and sell it as their own. And, since they have your credit card info, they can share that with their Russian mafia buddies and use it to steal your identity, hack your bank accounts, etc.
Granted, LiveJournal has been owned by a Russian company for several years, so they might have been doing some of this stuff already. But last week, you could have sued them in a California court for doing it. From now on, you have no legal recourse."
siderea has posted some evidence.) What I know:
When a company offers a service to the public, the laws governing that service are determined by where the physical servers reside. For most of its life, LiveJournal servers lived in California, so LJ had to abide by California laws. Among other things, it meant that:
- LJ couldn't share your personal data with advertisers, researchers, or other third parties without your permission
- You maintained the copyright to any stories or essays you wrote
- Whatever speech you published was protected by the first amendment, so they needed a valid reason to take it down (e.g. It violated LJ's terms and conditions, it constituted criminal activity, etc)
- LJ could not turn over your personal data to law enforcement without a warrant
With the servers in Russia, none of that applies anymore. They can basically remove any posts that they don't like (political or otherwise) without giving you a reason. They can delete your entire journal without explanation or recourse. They can also translate your fiction and sell it as their own. And, since they have your credit card info, they can share that with their Russian mafia buddies and use it to steal your identity, hack your bank accounts, etc.
Granted, LiveJournal has been owned by a Russian company for several years, so they might have been doing some of this stuff already. But last week, you could have sued them in a California court for doing it. From now on, you have no legal recourse."
HOW TO BACK UP YOUR LJ:
https://www.dreamwidth.org/support/faqb
https://www.dreamwidth.org/support/faqb
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