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Gai.C
Member

Why is this site only for US Citizens?

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Why is the site Only for US Citizens?

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CommunityAdmin
Community Manager
Community Manager

@all 

You don't have to be a citizen but you need to be accessing from the US.

GDPR is part of the equation. There are special and complex regulations around the requirements of GDPR and it is quite costly to ensure your site is compliant with the regulations.

We're now working with companies and other entities who have their employees and members coming to EX to quit.  Because we offer benefits to those employees and members certain services can only be offered to US Based members. Employees living outside the US wouldn't be able to receive the same services because of great cost and logistical challenges to offer services world-wide.  So we've closed our registration to only US residents.  It was a tough decision as we love the diversity of our population. Members who have joined before we made this change can still participate but we don't allow any new registrants who live outside the US. People outside of US can still view the site. Those who reside in the European Union cannot see the site. 

Mark
EX Community Manager

EX Community Admin Team

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9 Replies
indingrl
Member

Welcome Unknown - the site manager - Sir Mark is the one who holds the answer - gentle hug

We have several Canadian members.  There is an issue with other European/UK/and other areas.  Perhaps Sir Mark  Mark can explain it. 

I think there might have been a problem accessing the site from overseas - not a problem that folks were not US citizens.

 GDPR, a new EU data privacy law that goes into effect on May 25, 2018 and that may have widespread impact on businesses around the world. The regulation applies only to the treatment of personal data furnished to a business from data subjects who are situated in the EU. The GDPR imposes numerous requirements on those businesses that are obligated to comply with the regulation.

Thats why

Giulia
Member

Whispers is correct.  But I think as said it only affects those in the EU.  Not Canada.  However I believe if you subscribe to a VPN, you can still join and communicate on EX from the EU.  Also if a  particular US company or site, such as EX wanted to go through the costly compliance regulations they could.   JonesCarpeDiem‌ ???  Right?

Before the regulations took effect there were rumors that using a virtual private network was a workaround.

I just googled it. This was my finding.

Any VPN based in Europe will not get you around the blockage.

Article 13 can be easily bypassed with a VPN but under limited circumstances. Don't use a VPN that has any correlation with the EU meaning if they're based in the EU EU laws will still apply. Read the TOS of the VPN provider thoroughly some VPNs do keep logs of your data.]

VPN's are cheap. Under $3 a month and it protects your privacy.

CommunityAdmin
Community Manager
Community Manager

@all 

You don't have to be a citizen but you need to be accessing from the US.

GDPR is part of the equation. There are special and complex regulations around the requirements of GDPR and it is quite costly to ensure your site is compliant with the regulations.

We're now working with companies and other entities who have their employees and members coming to EX to quit.  Because we offer benefits to those employees and members certain services can only be offered to US Based members. Employees living outside the US wouldn't be able to receive the same services because of great cost and logistical challenges to offer services world-wide.  So we've closed our registration to only US residents.  It was a tough decision as we love the diversity of our population. Members who have joined before we made this change can still participate but we don't allow any new registrants who live outside the US. People outside of US can still view the site. Those who reside in the European Union cannot see the site. 

Mark
EX Community Manager

EX Community Admin Team