> The privacy angle lives in the minds of Europeans

without data, it’s hard to make this argument. what we know for sure is that bureaucrats fully support the privacy angle. but from my anecdotal real life experience almost no one cares (another argument that without data cannot be generalised).

The "bureaucrats" are elected officials so if people weren't in favour of it, they would stop electing MEPs that vote in favour of it.

That’s a naïve view of how politics and elections work.

When has any democracy worked even remotely like that? There are countless issues politicians must take a position on, you won't agree with all of them. So you prioritize. Or you just vote party line, which is by far what most people do.

US people certainly care about their privacy however there aren't any strong institutions left in the US anymore (outside of the Military) and the political system in the US give a choice between two corporate-owned parties.

Agree it is both but it is very palatable in the local population to implement rules to shutout foreign competition. Easy political points.