That isn't an "interpretation of the rule of law", that's a response to the bold statement that "We really need to teach [...] all those companies some manners and respect for our society".
Yes, we can introduce all sorts of stupid laws to make foreign companies do as we please or have them leave. No, we're not "teaching" them "manners and respect" for our society. We killed millions of people, not even a hundred years ago, but now we're the paragons of virtue? Give me a fucking break...
>> Because they do operate in Germany?
Clearly whatever they did was legal in however way they operate "in Germany", or there would have been a German court case.
Actually, what they did was not legal. Not appearing in court when a judge orders you to is not legal. It just so happens that it's not enforcable when the person ordered to appear happens to be in a different country. In order to limit the negative effects of this illegal behaviour, now more of their behaviour has been made illegal in such a way that if they don't follow those rules, it can actually be enforced.
That's not actually true.
I don't see how this was relevant in any way to the discussion. What happened 100 years ago should of course be considered in discussions and in the law-making process today and it should not be forgotten, so that it will not repeat. But it isn't fair to still judge people born in a country where some of their grand(grand)parents did bad things.
Of more simply 'ignore laws that aim at preventing a repeat of a crime because of the commission of that crime.'
¯\(°_o)/¯
I'm not talking about this fantastic new hate-speech law per se, I'm talking about the broader attitude in Germany where we just expect foreign business to gratefully deal with all of our bullshit, because we really are a bunch of narrow-headed cultural hegemonists.
Imagine if Turkey asked Facebook to enforce Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code. The reaction in Germany would be widespread ridicule, probably by some of the same people that demand this new law enforced because it's German law.
Then you should have made your general point at the outset. Surely it's clear that the law applies to people providing services to consumers in Germany.
Imagine if Turkey asked Facebook to enforce Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code.
In Turkey? OK I guess. I haven't bothered to look up Article 301 or even whether it exists since I presume you're making a rhetorical point.
Now, that is an interesting interpretation of the rule of law if I have ever seen one!
So, in your opinion, having to follow the laws of a country you visit or that you do business in is somehow illegitimate because it's an Extrawurst? Is it your expectation that the US will apply German law to you when you visit the US?
> These are not German companies, they don't need to operate out of Germany,
Well, true?
> so why should they have to follow our every law?
Because they do operate in Germany?
> If anything, you'd be "teaching" them not to bother with Germany, because it's too much of a pain in the ass.
So, we shouldn't apply laws because that could be teaching people to not bother with Germany? So I suppose you think we shouldn't apply laws at all, then? It's not like Germans couldn't end up learning that they should leave the country if they have to follow laws, is it?