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Re:Google Talk Is Being Discontinued by joshuata on Friday March 24, 2017 @05:10PM (#13952241)
Although this is an appealing idea, I don't think it is realistic. Lobbying would destroy any legislation almost immediately, and there would still be the issue of competing standards.

I think a more achievable version would be that any online service which maintains user data must provide a method for a user to retrieve that data in an open-source format. Some companies would deliberately obfuscate formats, such as calendar appointments as JSON rather than iCAL or another existing standard, but I think it would give users more control than they currently have.

Re:Google Talk Is Being Discontinued by nickpsecurity on Friday March 24, 2017 @05:21PM (#13952312)
"Lobbying would destroy any legislation almost immediately, and there would still be the issue of competing standards."

Oh, I agree. You're describing the effect of a corrupt government allowed to prevent or eliminate laws meant to protect its voters. I was talking about what law would be necessary if voters cared enough to push one.